Success Stories

Eagle Locker-Georgetown

The thought that some teenaged students have few resources as they roam from house to house every night, bunking with friends instead of their own families, was one factor that spawned Eagle Locker, the popular student-run charity at Georgetown High School.

The organization, which also acts as a service-learning club in which students can participate, raises public awareness of student homelessness, said Karen Crosby, service learning coordinator for both Eagle Locker and Georgetown High School.

“The athletes asked me to come over to talk more about service learning,” she said. They discussed the idea of providing some basic necessities to homeless students, she continued. The athletes wanted to start collecting the basic necessities for students, such as soap and shampoo.

After that initial meeting in the fall of 2008, it took only 12 months to get the organization off the ground. Within a year, the group had grown into a full-blown, nonprofit charity in its own classroom, stocked to the ceiling with clothing, bedding, snacks, school supplies, shoes and other essentials. Crosby credited the success of the organization to tremendous public support and a firm commitment from students to help other teens in need.

“We don’t do it,” Crosby said of teacher participation. “The kids do it. It’s all headed by students who are paired with community members. Adults can’t take over.”

Student homelessness, as far as Eagle Locker is concerned, does not necessarily mean they are out on the street. Many teenagers are “sofa surfers,” or bunk at friends’ houses from night to night. The most common reason for their displacement is due to family conflicts rather than difficult financial situations, Crosby said.

“Surprisingly, the top reason is momma’s new boyfriend,” she said. “Isn’t that a surprise? It’s not the economy, but it’s momma’s new boyfriend.”

In that instance, those teens can meet with school counselors who will direct them down to the Eagle Locker room on the east side of the school. They can anonymously pick up clothing, food or additional items they may need without having to worry about being seen by their peers.

“The [Eagle Locker student participants] have all signed confidentiality agreements,” Crosby said. “But they don’t know who the kids are. They don’t care, and it doesn’t matter. They are very discreet.”

Amanda Rister, a GHS senior and secretary of Eagle Locker, said while she was astounded to learn so many students were in need, she was more than willing to help and serve those with whom she sits in class every day.

“I had never known that [Eagle Locker] was here before,” Rister said. “It was just a complete shock to me. These are the same students who are doing the same things as us. We need to help them even if we don’t know who they are.”

By the Numbers

58 Pairs of shoes purchased with a $1,000 donation made by a Sun City resident
50 Minimum number of students Eagle Locker feeds every night
260 Homeless students in Georgetown
100 Homeless students at GHS

Donating to Eagle Locker Checks can be mailed to:
Karen Crosby
Georgetown Alternative Program
502 CR 104
Georgetown, TX 78626

Eagle Locker
943-5000 ext. 7690
www.eaglelocker.org