As part of the Western Nevada College employees' annual holiday potluck luncheon Dec. 14, faculty and staff members collected donations for Austin's House, where emergency housing is provided for children who are referred by Child Protective Services and the courts.
In all, 46 WNC employees donated $735 to the Carson Valley center. College President Carol Lucey presented a check to Sue Bennett, a board member for the nonprofit organization, during the luncheon.
Austin's House can care for up to 10 children age 17 or younger who are unable to remain in their own homes until appropriate foster care or extended family housing can be arranged, or until they are able to return to their parents. Bennett said that having a local care facility available allows the children to stay in their own community and school, rather than being suddenly uprooted to another community. Austin's House has been open for less than a year and is dependent on fundraising efforts to pay for the children's basic living necessities.
