To Help Kids Help the Homeless

To help kids help the homeless. This has always been a goal of Jacki, Joe and son Caleb Stevens and one of the reasons Joppa was started in 2008.

At that time, there were no organizations that would allow Caleb, then seven, to volunteer to help the homeless. True to Joppa nature, it sought out a way to fulfill this unmet need and it embraced kids’ participation. Seven years later, at just 14 years old, Caleb Stevens founded Joppa Kids – a set of programs that encourages kids to get involved in homeless education and volunteering.

Joppa Kids has a long history despite its recent formation, and Caleb shares the details here:

When was Joppa Kids started?
“I was seven years old when I started to work with the homeless, so we launched Joppa Kids on the 7th anniversary of Joppa, September 3, 2015.” Where did the idea originate? “The idea originated from my experiences with the homeless and I wanted other kids to get involved and share those same experiences.”

What was your initial goal or plan for the program?
“Joppa Kids is designed to help K–12 students learn about homelessness through education, awareness and volunteering.”

What have you achieved through the program so far?
“In 2015, Joppa Kids educated 881 students, spoke to 76 audiences and facilitated first-time homeless camp experiences for 506 students. Additionally, several schools have done supply drives, made greeting cards and the Norwalk High School STEM class framed and built the exterior of the first-ever Joppa tiny home, which we lovingly named ‘Tabitha’s House’ in celebration of our volunteers.”

Is there anything else you think is important for people to know about the history of this program?
“Joppa has always embraced kids. Joppa Kids is just an extension of our organization.”