WINDHAM — The Windham High School Do Good Club raised nearly $3,000 this school year to assist local homeless families.

Justin Valentine, founder of the Do Good Club, presented a check to Family Promise of Greater Rockingham County on Tuesday. The check represented the largest amount raised by any single group for the organization to date, according to Melanie Nesheim, president of Family Promise of Greater Rockingham County.

While working a summer job at the YMCA last year, Valentine, a junior at the school, noticed that many children were growing up with less than he had. He later learned through Family Promise of Greater Rockingham County that the average age for homelessness is 9.

“It kicked in that it’s really a local problem, and it would be a good charity to fundraise for,” Valentine said.

The club sold T-shirts reactive to black light in the fall and held a black light dance that spring, raising a total of about $3,000. Other Windham High School clubs also contributed. A “night without a home” event raised about $500 and the National Honor Society raised about $175 selling homemade ice cream sandwiches. An anonymous donor match doubled the gift to $348. The high school students raised over $3,800 combined.

Family Promise of Greater Rockingham County is putting the funds towards an Interfaith Hospitality Network it plans to open in January. The network consists of 14 congregations of any faith hosting families in church buildings, one week at a time, four times each year. A professionally staffed day center works with the families on the issues that led to homelessness.

“Most people aren’t aware there are at least 158 homeless families in the Salem/Derry area, and no homeless shelter of any kind,” Nesheim said.

The organization has secured 10 host sites involving 14 congregations. It will serve homeless families in Windham, Salem, Derry and 11 surrounding communities. About $30,000 more is needed to meet the January opening target.

Donations can be made at www.familypromisegrc.org or by mailing a check to Family Promise of Greater Rockingham County, Inc., P.O. Box 611, Derry, N.H. 03038. An anonymous donor will match new donor gifts made by June 30.

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Julie Hanson may be reached at Jhanson@newstote.com.