North Thurston Education Foundation supports needy students throughout the district

A helping hand is often all a homeless or hungry child needs to succeed in school. 

 Deanna East knows this all too well.  While working as a health room assistant at Timberline High School in 2005, she first became aware of homeless students in the North Thurston School District. 

 “I met a young student who visited my office almost daily, often with headaches or stomachaches,” related East.  “One day, however, she burst into tears in my office and admitted she hadn’t eaten since lunch the day before.” 

 The student explained that she and her siblings lived with their grandmother.  As the oldest, she made sure that her siblings got up, were fed and then sent off to school, which usually meant that she went without breakfast. 

 “The night before, there had only been one box of macaroni and cheese to share, and she had given up her portion for her siblings. She was too scared to tell anyone, since living with her grandmother was the longest they had stayed with anyone.” 

East, now serving as executive director of the North Thurston Education Foundation, pointed out that the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 is a federal law that provides crucial educational rights and services to Pre-K through Grade 12 children and youth experiencing homelessness.  Every school district must have a liaison that identifies students who qualify for assistance, ensuring they receive immediate enrollment in school and informing them of their lawful rights. 

 “When we talk about homeless students, we are referring to the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness - not having a fixed, regular, or adequate night-time residence,” continued East.   “Some students are on the streets, and many others are struggling to secure what they can for housing.” 

 She added that some students and their families live in cars, campgrounds, abandoned buildings, hotel rooms, inadequate housing or shelters. 

 “Most of these students are what we call ‘doubled up’ and have moved in with family or friends because they can’t afford a place to live,” East said. 

 “These families are often living in cramped, overcrowded conditions that they are under the constant fear of being asked to leave. Some families they are moving in with risk losing their own lease if it is found out they have another family living there.”   

North Thurston School District
McKinney-Vento Services Stats 

There are approximately 14,500 students in the North Thurston School District.  

1,024 students currently qualified  for McKinney Vento Services during the 2023-24 school year. 

These included:
In Shelters/Transitional housing: 27 
Doubled Up:  897 
Unsheltered:  65 
Hotel/Motel: 35 
Total:  1,024 

Age breakdown for 2023 - 2024 school year: 
High School: 275 
Middle school: 218 
Elementary/preschool: 531 
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY)- 307- (147 of those are in High School) These students were identified as McKinney Vento qualified but also were also not in the custody of a parent or guardian. They too qualify for additional services and support.  

Back in 2005, determined to help the hungry young student, East contacted the North Thurston Education Foundation, an independent, community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

And to address the growing issue of student homelessness and the constellation of challenges it poses, East then worked to establish the McGimsey Pantry at Timberline to ensure food is accessible for hungry students.  Since then, pantries have been established in every school in the district except the Summit Virtual Academy.  

 After earning a multi-disciplinary social science degree (sociology and psychology) at the Evergreen State College in 2016, East became the first Homeless Student Navigator for the district where her connection to the North Thurston Education Foundation deepened.   In August 2023, she became the foundation’s third executive director. 

 Established as a nonprofit in 1989 with the vision of providing grants and scholarships for students and teachers, the Foundation works to mobilize support from the community and local businesses to meet these goals.  In August 2023, East became the foundation’s third executive director. 

 “The foundation empowers kids with equitable access to education because it captures our goal of ensuring that every student in our district has the essential support they need to succeed,” explained East. 

 "Empowering kids" includes meeting students' basic needs for food, clothing, and housing assistance, as well as supporting classroom innovation, extracurricular access, and scholarship opportunities that help students further their education. We believe in fostering not only immediate success in school but also lifelong learning and opportunities, so students can achieve their dreams. 

Young Authors’ Project: One of the many programs supported by the North Thurston Education Foundation, homeless children can participate in …

“Kids shouldn’t have to worry or do without at school. Education is the one area that can make a huge impact on breaking the poverty cycle,” concluded East.  

“By making sure that students have what they need and offering things that increase enjoyment or spark student interest in school, we help graduation rates … and have a huge impact on whether a student will become homeless themselves in their lifetime.” 

 East concluded by saying that the foundation is happy to work with businesses, community groups and individuals to mobilize the resources needed to continue its work. 

 “If you can offer funds, many of our programs are designed to offer help right at the student’s school to quickly and quietly provide items as needed to minimize potential discomfort or shame, ensuring that those in need receive the assistance they require,” she said. 

 Presently, there are 1,024 students in the North Thurston School District needing a helping hand.