Students of Saint Joseph Regional Academy (SJRA) in Jim Thorpe not only got to enjoy a recent dress-down day, but they had the opportunity to help aid homeless families in the process.

The students of SJRA raised $200 through the event to donate to Family Promise of Carbon County which sponsored a county-wide dress-down day for homeless awareness.The Mission of Family Promise of Carbon County is to provide temporary shelter, meals, and fellowship in order to meet the basic needs of families without permanent housing in Carbon County.Families will be educated, encouraged, and empowered to become self-sufficient by support from the Faith Community and other local community resources.Sophia Samoleski, a 4th grade student at the school had the idea to have such a dress-down day after hearing about it in the newspaper.Robert Fatzinger of Family Promise of Carbon County spoke to the student body of the school about homeless awareness.After a lengthy discussion with the students, Fatzinger was presented by Sophia with a check for the funds raised by the school students.Fatzinger said "I'm overjoyed, Saint Joe's is is one of a number of schools that have gotten involved through this dress-down day.""Lehighton School District and Weatherly School District have also raised some money and we are waiting on some other school districts and have also had some business contributions."He expressed his appreciation further by saying "our program specifically deals with homeless children so to have these kids aware of the issue of homelessness in this county, that a lot of people don't think exist, is fantastic."Anyone desiring more information the Family Promise program can contact them at their Day Center at 610-379-4757 or Email them at

Directorfpcc@Hotmail.comFor additional information or to make a financial contribution to Family Promise of Carbon County, you can visit their website at familypromisecarboncounty.orgFinancial donations can be made directly on the website using either a credit card or PayPal account.Summing up the involvement of everyone to help aid homeless families, Fatzinger said "Its just been a wonderful response to an ongoing need !"