The number of children left alone to care for themselves increases every year.  At Hearts for the Homeless®, we could not help but notice many youngsters roaming the streets of Buffalo daily and into the late evening hours.  Children would walk for great distances by themselves to receive a meal from our Mobile Soup Kitchen.  We knew we needed to do more!

In March 2000, Hearts for the Homeless® launched it’s FREE After-School Program at our Ministry  Center here in Riverside.  We are reaching children ages 5 to 12 years old.  The every-expanding program includes teaching of basic Christian principles and character building, Bible lessons, crafts and activities like cooking and sewing classes, and we even have a computer room with all computers accessible to supervised internet access.  We also serve a hot meal to help children receive proper nutrition.

Our children and their families receive groceries throughout the year, new clothing, hats, gloves, and scarves in the winter months.  We have hosted coat giveaways, all of our after school families are adopted at Christmas time and receive new toys, turkeys and hams.

In the summer months, we sponsor fun days filled with activities for our children from our after school program..  These days help make the summer months enjoyable and safe with supervised activities for our kids.