Potato Bowl fans can help homeless students

To the editor:

Statistics from spring of 2011 show that the Mat-Su Borough School District has 981 homeless youth. Out of 435 teens that make up this population, more than 245 are unaccompanied youth who have been identified through the school system. There is no way of knowing how many other teens without shelters exist outside of the school system and in our community.

With winter on its way, community members are concerned about our youth battling Alaska’s harsh environment and hope others will help at the Potato Bowl on Friday, Sept. 30.

Rival fans from Wasilla and Palmer are encouraged to donate new or gently used winter clothing, personal hygiene items, gas cards, gift cards to food chains, survival items to place in containers that will be located at the game. We would like to see which school brings in the most help to our Valley youth.

Special thanks to All Seasons Clothing Company — from “Team Wasilla” — for its very generous donation of warm clothing. Hope to see everyone at the Potato Bowl supporting all of our youth.

Deborah Waisanen

Wasilla