DALLAS—Next month, Planned Parenthood of North Texas (PPNT) begins its annual donation drive to gather childcare supplies and clothing for homeless and displaced women and their children. It is the 5th annual effort by the organization called "Meet the Need for Moms in May," and its timing coincides with the announcement of a disturbing statistic.

In a study released today, the National Center on Family Homelessness reports Texas placed 50th — last of all states — in how homeless children fare. Dr. Ellen Bassuk, president of the NCFH, said the child poverty level in Texas is 23 percent, above the 18 percent nationwide (familyhomelessness.org). Advocacy groups and state officials report varying numbers of homeless children in Texas (55,000 to 250,000), but all agree that numbers are increasing.

"Texas must begin to address the social ills in our communities," James T. Roderick, PPNT President/CEO said. "Soaring teen pregnancy and poverty rates are only exacerbating our already shameful rank in the national numbers. PPNT has long worked to address these issues, but we have to work together to do more, because there are so many more who need help."

During the month of April, PPNT supporters, volunteers and patients donate new and unused items (diapers, infant clothes, socks, sleepwear, soap, foodstuffs) for local homeless and abused/displaced mothers and their children.  Supporters donate funds online at ppnt.org, which is used to purchase urgently-needed items requested by its partner relief groups. Total donations in the 2008 effort garnered 2,000 pounds of supplies.

Collections go to The Vogel Alcove, a childcare center providing families with free childcare, developmental and social services while they are homeless or transitioning to independent living;  domestic violence shelter SafeHaven of Tarrant County, which last year served more than 2,500 adult and child victims and provided community education efforts to almost 60,000 individuals; and Hope's Door of Collin County, a domestic violence shelter and counseling center for women and their children.

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Planned Parenthood is the oldest, largest family planning organization in the United States.  For 74 years, PPNT has provided compassionate medical care in North Texas.  In 2008, PPNT's 29 clinics provided medical and education services to more than 100,000 individuals.