BILLINGS — The amount of homeless people in Billings has grown significantly in the last five years, and Billings high schools are helping to give back to homeless students this holiday season.
The schools are holding a homeless student gift card drive from Dec. 9-13.
To participate, you can donate a gift card at either Senior, West or Skyview high schools by dropping it off in their lobby every day this week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Shelli Strouf, Billings Senior's assistant principal, said they realized the increase in homeless students, after a declared public school liaison started collecting data about nine years ago.
"What were were finding was there were a lot of stories that weren't known. Because it's kind of a personal situation. So through telling their friends, teachers and counselors, we started hearing about more and more kids that actually listed at homeless. And so we wanted to do something special for them in the holiday seasons that above just the basic needs. The pantry and the coats and things like that," she said.
Strouf said you can bring gift cards from Target, Walmart, grocery stores, gas stations, fast food restaurants or coffee shops.
The Billings Career Center is also organizing a similar drive. Call (406) 281-5340 during regular business hours for more information.
