A Philadelphia ministry is lending a helping hand to the homeless family of a toddler who was found wandering barefoot in LOVE Park.
CHOSEN 300 announced a $12,000 campaign to provide housing for one year for the parents of a 2-year-old boy who was found by passerby Friday around 11:50 p.m.
Witnesses flagged down police after they found the boy who was wearing a green long-sleeve shirt, black running pants and a diaper but no shoes or socks, according to police.
The officers took the little boy, whom was reportedly scared and upset when he was found, to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to be checked out.
Shortly after the child was found, his parents, a 27-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, called police to report that he was missing, investigators said. The parents said they had been kicked out of a home where they were staying Friday and spent the night in LOVE Park, according to officials. The boy wandered off after the parents fell asleep and they were still sleeping when the child was found, police said.
The 2-year-old boy as well as his 4-year-old sister were both placed in DHS custody. No charges have been filed but the investigation is ongoing.
On Sunday, CHOSEN 300 an inter-denominational ministry which has distributed more than 150,000 meals a year to the homeless in Center City, West Philadelphia and Pottstown, announced their plan to help the boy and his family.
"CHOSEN 300 has launched a campaign to raise $12,000 IN 12 DAYS to secure housing for this family for 1-year. In addition, our staff will be working with the family to provide case management, money management and social services to move them toward self-sufficiency," a spokesperson wrote in a press release. "We know this family as they have come to our mission often to receive meals. We have witnessed their love and care for their two children, but have fallen on hard times."
The spokesperson stated Wawa is scheduled to meet with the ministry to present a $3000 check in order to help them offset financial obligations of serving the homeless during the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia last month. The presentation will take place Monday at 6 p.m. in West Philadelphia. Brian Jenkins, the Executive Director of CHOSEN 300, asked Wawa to allow the ministry to re-allocate $1,000 of the grant towards their $12,000 goal for the homeless family, according to the spokesperson.
CLICK HERE to donate to the campaign effort.
Photo Credit: Bill Newbold / Twitter @billfish215
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