TRIO Upward Bound students hosted Operation H.E.L.P., an initiative designed to help displaced and transitional students in the Richmond County School System. The students collected donations last month on the Paine College campus and seven area high schools. According to the designated Homeless Social Worker for the Richmond County School System, there are over 300 identified homeless students in the district area. These students live mostly in shelters, low-end hotels, with family or friends, or elsewhere (including in their cars).

Operation H.E.L.P. will be designed to collect daily necessities for these students and their families. Items include clothing, school supplies, non-perishable food items, and toiletries. Students, parents, teachers, and administrators from the Academy of Richmond County, Butler, Cross Creek, Laney, Josey, Hephzibah, and Westside high schools participated in the drive.

The students collected eight (24L x 24W x 44D) boxes of items filled with toiletries, school supplies, clothing, and non-perishable food items.