December 8, 1999

Woman launches project to help homeless children

By Justin Trapp
Herald staff writer
      While growing up, many people may recall fondly the holiday of Christmas, remembering gifts, "feel good" food, and family. But for others, Christmas is a time when financial instability is most keenly felt. The homeless, who are often underestimated in number, seldom have the type of Christmas that most people consider commonplace.
      Until now.
      A local resident, Kathee McCafferty, was moved to action this holiday season after reading an article in the Record Eagle about homelessness in the area.
      "I read an article in the local section of the Record Eagle during Homeless Awareness Week and I was just amazed and astounded to read that we had 268 homeless children in our public school system in Traverse City," McCafferty said. "I read it once and I read it again and I thought 'this is crazy.'"
      McCafferty called the contact number of the article and reached Jean Peltola, coordinator of the Students in Transition Empowerment Program, or STEP. The STEP program is aimed to help K-12 students who are in a "homeless" situation. McCafferty was then referred to Candace Bell, holiday coordinator of the Goodwill Inn in Traverse City, to inquire about holiday adoption.
      The holiday adoption at the Goodwill Inn services homeless children by helping to purchase gifts based on what the children need or want. McCafferty networked with her friends and other contacts to adopt all of the children at Goodwill, a task that has never been accomplished in the past.
      "I was amazed," Bell said. "When she called me, she said 'I'm nobody, I'm just a mom, but I want to help.'"
      The project McCafferty undertook was named "Operation Kid to Kid" by her two children, Jillian and Alexis. Everyone McCafferty spoke to seemed to have something to offer, from $150 from the St. Francis Student Council to reconditioned bikes from Brick Wheels. By the time all the gifts are wrapped and sent, it is estimated that thousands of dollars will have been spent on the families and children.
      McCafferty said that people's general reaction to the homeless statistics is usually that of shock. The number of homeless children rivals the number of children in the Holy Angels school system, where McCafferty's children are students.
      "After hearing about the homeless children, people step forward," McCafferty said. "They say 'Hey, I want to help. We'll take a child.' A lot of them have never done anything like this before."
      This, however, is not the first time that McCafferty and her family have volunteered time and money to the less fortunate. Every year, Kathee and her husband adopt a family from the Women's Resource Center in lieu of gifts for each other, just "to give a little bit back."
      On Friday, December 17, 80 or more children are expected to finish wrapping presents in the St. Francis cafeteria for more than 90 children that "Operation Kid to Kid" has "adopted."
      "If I can just get those kids what is on their lists," McCafferty said, "-that dollhouse, or those shoes - they can get up on Christmas morning and see that. That's all I want."
      Though a few larger presents are still being sought after by "Operation Kid to Kid," it is expected that all adopted children will get almost everything on their wish lists.
      "The kids here are going to have an amazing Christmas, thanks to Kathee and her program," Bell said.