There are nearly 500 homeless students enrolled in Manteca Unified this school year alone. That’s more than the district has ever seen before, said Health Services Director Caroline Thibodeau.

The need to help these students in any way, shape or form is greater than ever, so any assistance extended to make life a little easier for these struggling youngsters is always appreciated, Thibodeau said as she received the donation of $2,569.87 from Patricia Hansen and Rayna Anaya of Re/Max Executive at Center Street in Manteca during the Board of Trustees’ last meeting of the year.

The money came from the proceeds of a Re/Max fund-raiser held earlier in the summer at Delicato Winery in Manteca. The event was a “lovely evening” of wine-tasting and hors d’oeuvres, said Thibodeau who was also there.

“We doubled our numbers last year,” Hansen said of the amount they presented this year to the district Health Services’ program for homeless children.

Hansen added the staff at Re/Max on Center Street decided to start their Evening at Delicato fund-raiser after reading a story in the Manteca Bulletin about homeless students in the school district.

“It touches all of us,” Hansen said about homelessness among the young.

“I’m very grateful,” Thibodeau said of the donations coming from Re/Max Realty.

“I thank the Manteca Bulletin as well,” she added, because every time the paper runs a story about the homeless students attending various schools in the district, “people call us and offer clothing, and sometimes money to buy shoes” for the children.

“We’re very appreciative to the community,” she said, adding, “we have many requests for clothes.”

In fact, clothing in particular continues to be in high demand from the children who live in cars or outside in the elements with their families.

Those who would like to donate clothes or shoes to the homeless students in the district may drop them off at the Health Services’ new offices at the old Lindbergh School, corner of East North Street and Lincoln Avenue in Manteca. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cash donations are also accepted at the office during regular business hours (payable to Manteca Unified Health Services), or they can be mailed to Manteca Unified Health Services, 311 E. North Street, Manteca, CA 95336. In the memo line at the bottom left corner of the check, write Needy/Homeless Children.