ST INS CARES-Cape Coral For The Children-The Hidden Crisis Of Student Homelessness

You can live in a town full of nice neighborhoods and still have hundreds of kids without a stable place to sleep. That’s the uncomfortable truth we sit with alongside Julie Lombardi, executive director of Cape Coral for the Children, as she explains why student homelessness is so often invisible and why the numbers in Cape Coral have climbed past 400 children.

We trace the origin story that sparked the nonprofit: a high-achieving teen, accepted to college and working part-time, revealed as homeless after losing a parent and stability at home. From there, we dig into what “couch surfing” and doubled-up living really look like for families, and how the McKinney-Vento Act helps schools identify students who need support even when they’re not sleeping outdoors.

Then we get practical. Julie shares the essentials schools ask for most, including toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, towels, socks, and underwear, plus the behind-the-scenes reason those items matter: dignity before the first bell rings. We also talk about the summer food gap when school meals disappear, and how community grants, care packages, and school pantries help families stretch through the hardest weeks.

Finally, we break down how local fundraisers fuel real outcomes, including more than $23,000 in scholarships, and why donations earmarked for education can change a student’s long-term path. If you care about nonprofit work in Cape Coral, student homelessness, community giving, or practical ways to help kids thrive, you’ll leave with clear next steps. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find these stories and support the work.

Cape Coral for the Children
Julie Lombardi
4112 SE 8th Ave, Cape Coral, FL, United States, 33904
(239) 540-8288
capecoralforthechildren@gmail.com
capecoralforthechildren.org
@CapeCoralfortheChildren

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Ft Myers, FL 33966
239-567-9992
office@StateInsuranceUSA.com
stateinsuranceusa.com
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#StateInsuranceUSA
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Transcript

Welcome And Guest Introduction

Intro/Close 0:00

Welcome to State Insurance USA Cares Podcast, where we celebrate the heart of our communities. Each episode, we highlight local charities and nonprofits who are bringing hope, help, and healing to those who need it most. Get ready to be inspired by the amazing stories of people making a difference. Because together, we care.

Gail Langner 0:19

Well, welcome to the State Insurance Cares Podcast. Um, this is the charitable giving arm of State Insurance USA. I'm Gail Langner. Uh every day there are children in our very own community facing challenges that most of us can hardly imagine. And yet, with the help and encouragement, those same children can thrive. Well, today's guest is Julie Lombardi. She's the executive director of Cape Coral for the Children, and they are dedicated to helping local students. So, Julie, thank you so much for being on the podcast today. Thank you, Gail. So tell us a little bit

The Story That Sparked Action

Gail Langner 0:56

about yourself. How did Cape Coral for the Children get started? I've I heard a story that there was a young man who actually inspired you. Is that true?

Julie Lombardi 1:04

Yes, that's correct. I went to uh Do the Right Thing presentation, and he was the overall winner of having done something in Cape Coral for which he was recognized. And in dictating his biography, they mentioned that he was 17 years old, a graduating senior, had been accepted to college with a 4.0 average, and working part-time in an ice cream store. That was okay till they told me that he was homeless. His mother had died six months previously, and his father was incarcerated. So he was doing what they call couch surfing. Different friends, families would say, spend the weekend with us, or come on over, mom's got dinner cooking, etc. And this is how he was surviving. Wow. And needless to say, you know, I'm a mother of four children and three stepchildren. So I'm sitting in the audience going, I'll bring them home with me.

Gail Langner 2:00

Right. What's one more? Right.

Julie Lombardi 2:02

What's one more? Which of course was not a reality. But in talking to people that I knew, we decided we were going to form a very off the cuff group, have luncheons once a month, and try and do things for children that reside in Cape Coral of similar hardships. Now we didn't really get started until two years later when we were incorporated and did a formal board of directors. On the board of directors, there are six other women that sit with me. Each one has a specific title and a specific duty that they do.

What Student Homelessness Looks Like

Julie Lombardi 2:42

In particular, I have someone who that is known as the director of Project Liaison. And Project Liaison is fashioned under the McKinney Vento Act, which is a federal act to identify homeless children in the United States. So we contacted the school system and the social workers to find out what's the status in Cape Coral. At that time, there were 287 homeless children in Cape Coral. Oh, Julie, that's awful. Well, today we're over 400. Oh my gracious. It's not getting any better again due to many, many economic reasons. You know, um, low-paying jobs, single family uh rentals, cost of living in an apartment, never mind owning a home, or lack of availability, even though habitat does a lot to get people into homes.

Gail Langner 3:38

Right.

Julie Lombardi 3:38

You know, it's it's hardships. And we all know right now price of food, price of gasoline, that just adds to the economic hardships.

Dignity Supplies For School Days

Gail Langner 3:48

So, how do you help them? What what kind of things do you do?

Julie Lombardi 3:52

Well, that particular liaison, project liaison, we collect toiletry products because our wonderful teachers will come in early in the morning. Any child that's identified under McKinney Vento or any child that shows they need it will provide them with necessarily toiletry items to either go into the boys' room or the girls' room and clean up before school starts so they have dignity. They also send home toiletry products to the home because a lot of times, you know, when you're buying food, do you choose I hate to say this toiletry products over the food or the fridge, etc.? Right. So we we provide to the school systems toiletry products ranging from toothpaste, uh toothbrushes, uh deodorants. Schools also ask us for white towels, white washcloth, uh socks, underwear. Uh occasionally we'll provide them with outfits if they if they tell us they need it and we can find it. I have 139 uh on an email list that I use and I stream that out and say, this is what we need, and at the next luncheon, uh the people will drop off products at my house, or just if they're in the area and they've got the products, they'll drop them off. And we'll just make sure that school gets them.

Gail Langner 5:12

Okay. So that you're finding that that's is that the most um often requested? Is that the greatest need, do you think?

Julie Lombardi 5:21

Um, I don't know that that's the greatest need. I don't know how I can define it into a greatest need, other than maybe if I was to divide the pie up and say toiletry is what is one avenue.

Food Help When School Is Out

Julie Lombardi 5:34

Uh school, when school is out in the summer, oh, sure. We need, we just put together with the help of Incredible Bank, they gave us a $2,500 grant. We put together 57 care packages. And then we also put together for two particular schools. Um, if you can imagine a van loaded with food for each school, because they have a uh a pantry to give these children food during the school, during the school, when the school's not in effect, because under McKinney Vento, if they're identified as meet needing food during the school year, they get breakfast and lunch, but it's when school's not in in place. I mean, I can say to you, my daughter is a teacher in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Oh, okay. And she keeps in her desk energy bars, and she says, Mom, I know when the child comes and says, Miss, can I have an energy bar at the end of the day, meaning they're not having dinner and maybe they're taking something home for a sibling. Yeah. So it's not just Cape Coral, it's across the United States. But we particularly pay attention to Cape Coral because that's our mission statement.

Gail Langner 6:49

Sure. And besides, I mean, it's it's amazing. I mean, it's one thing for somebody just listen, but you're the one, I mean, you picked it up and went, no, we're doing something about it. So I I love that. There I came to your lunch and there were a lot of people in that room. About how many people are normally are normally there that um come to the lunch

Fundraisers And Scholarships That Last

Gail Langner 7:08

and help?

Julie Lombardi 7:08

Well, luncheons we normally average about 30 people, but we also have a fashion show in October. In February, we do a bingo at Rusty's here in Cape Coral. And again, it's bingo games, and we have raffle baskets, and from that we hope to raise at least $4,000. Now that all that money is earmarked to our scholarship program. So that's one more egg in the basket. Okay. This year we gave out $23,000 in scholarships to children who, after having filled out the application and going through the scholarship committee, which again I have a director that does that. I identifies children that have are gr have graduated from high school, are going to be going to a university or a technical school, and they need financial help. Again, it could be a single parent, it could be a family that has a terminal illness, low income. We don't, we just identify children who need the money the most.

Gail Langner 8:06

Do you have one?

Julie Lombardi 8:09

We have occasionally people will call me and say they've got cribs or carriages, strollers, etc. And we will make sure that that will get to another organization that we kind of partner with. My motto is if you give it to me, I will find a home for it.

Gail Langner 8:27

I love that. I know you obviously cannot name names, but is there any particular really success story, one that really warms your heart that you think, oh gosh, we really did it, we did a good job with that one.

Julie Lombardi 8:39

Well, we've gotten letters back after they have graduated college and just said thank you so much for the help. Um, you made my college scholarship easier. So we we know that uh it's working.

Gail Langner 8:55

That's wonderful. That's wonderful. I know that your organization actually depends obviously on the generation generosity of the community and all of your fundraising efforts and so

How To Donate And Connect

Gail Langner 9:06

on. So the you need do you need volunteers? Do you need money? Do you need like what what if our list is?

Julie Lombardi 9:14

We always need money because um, like I said, this year we gave 23,000 over $23,000 in scholarships. And we unfortunately, there were probably another seven or eight that we could have funded, but we didn't have the finances. So if anybody wants to make don't monetary donations and earmark it for the scholarship fund, that would be wonderful because I'm a firm believer, whether it be a university or a trade school, if they get educated in in a particular field and go on, they're gonna turn around hopefully and pay back.

Gail Langner 9:53

Right. Exactly. Well, before we go, Julie, just ask me this. Well, first of all, what it would can you give our listeners your website would that be.

Julie Lombardi 10:03

It's sure, it's Cape Coral for the children.org.

Gail Langner 10:07

Okay. Is that the best way to get you? Is there a way to contact you through that?

Julie Lombardi 10:11

Or the or they can do go on CapeCoral for the @ gmail.com and there's a link there that they can say they want more information. But if they go on the website, they'll see they'll see um our events, they'll see who the board of directors is, they'll see the mission statement, they'll see pictures of uh various events that we've had.

Gail Langner 10:38

Well, you are doing an amazing job. And the fact that this was created out of your um tugging on the heartstrings for for that student, and you decided to do something about it. And I I think that's where you're to be commended, Julie. Um, is just knowing that you didn't just sit by and go, oh wow, that's sad, you actually decided to do something about it. I can't I commend you and your board and everyone that's working together to make that happen.

Why Homeless Kids Stay Invisible

Julie Lombardi 11:07

You know, Gail, when I go out and speak to organizations, and I'm very happy to do that. So if any of your listeners belong to an organization and they want me to come speak, I'd be more than happy to. Okay. Because when I when I say to an organization, we have 400 homeless children in Cape Coral, it's like deer in headlights. They look at me and go, but we don't see them. And I try and explain, you know, we're not Los Angeles, we're not Chicago, we're not New York City, you're not going to see these children sleeping in doorways. They are living in a home, but it's not their home. They're families that have doubled and tripled up. Can you imagine if your daughter or your son called you tomorrow and said, We've lost our house? We are coming to live with you. Now you've got a son or a daughter or both with two or three children. Right, right. What would that do to your family situation and how difficult it is to get everybody into the bathroom in the morning, get washed up for work and school, feed them, make them comfortable, and and give them the dignity that they're not living in their own home.

Gail Langner 12:16

Sure. Yeah.

Julie Lombardi 12:17

Yeah.

Gail Langner 12:18

Well, incredible. Thank you, Julie, for taking the time to be uh with us today. Uh, it was an honor for us to uh to give you a donation uh through State Insurance CARES and and we will see you again soon. I know that for sure. Obviously, you'll be attending hats off to you in November. Uh sure I sent you the save the date on that. So um thank you again to thank your board of directors and everything for all you're doing, and uh, we'll see you again soon.

Julie Lombardi 12:45

Thank you, Gail, so much for giving us this opportunity.

Gail Langner 12:48

Absolutely.

Closing Thanks And Support Links

Intro/Close 12:50

You have to go for joining us on State Insurance USA Cares. We hope today's story uplifted and inspired you. If you'd like to support or learn more about the incredible work happening in your community, visit StateInsuranceusa.com or call 239 567 9992. You can also visit CaboWaboJim.com. Until next time, be sure to let your sun shine and keep sharing good and positive vibes wherever the waves take you.