ARK Project
The ARK Project is a school-based drop-in center providing basic needs, crisis intervention, and advocacy, and essential support services to homeless children and youth, ages 0-21, and their families throughout Coos County. During this crisis, the ARK has been up to some exciting things and have partnered with organizations to better serve children and youth in our community. The ARK has been going the extra mile by delivering hot meals in the summer to at-risk and homeless families. The meals were provided by Restaurant 0, Buzzed, and Top Dog Coffee Company. The ARK partnered with the Bandon Community Youth Center when receiving a $1,500 grant from United Way. This grant helped them create 180 “activity bags” for elementary and middle school students, which was handed out in June. These bags contain “fun craft projects” for kiddos to end an unconventional school year. The ARK received a second grant of $5,000 from Wild Rivers Coast Alliance to provide 120 hygiene bags each month from March through September. These bags were distributed between all Coos County school districts and homeless families. In addition, the ARK received three additional grants, total $4,000, from United Way to restock the emergency food pantry, basic need items, and transportation vouchers for families. Coos Elderly Services is providing the ARK with COVID informational bags to hand out to families as they come in. Lastly, the Bay Area Chamber of Education Committee beautified the drop-in center to create a more inviting place for our homeless children and youth and their families to visit in their time of need. Currently the ARK is open Monday-Thursday from 1-5pm by appointment only. The new location is 817 S. 10th St. Coos Bay, OR 97420 directly behind Marshfield High School between the woodshop and theatre.
