Positive Tomorrows is a school for at-risk and homeless children where washing machines, as well as books and computers, are part of the routine.

"If their clothes are dirty, we just wash them and give them a new outfit," said Kay Bonebrake, Positive Tomorrows development director.

A fundraiser for the school, where hand-crafted playhouses will be auctioned, will be Jan. 17.

School picks up students each day

The school's mission is to provide special services to homeless children, who come with a set of special needs.

"They live in cars, under the bridge, in the shelters or on the couch of an aunt from night to night," Bonebrake said.

"If the families tell us where they will be by 7:30 a.m., we can go and pick them up," she said.

That's why the school boasts an 88 percent attendance rate, Bonebrake said.

The children are usually more than one grade level behind in school and are dealing with emotional issues, as well.

In fact, in the past two years, two children who have attended Positive Tomorrows were selective mutes, because they were so traumatized by not having a bed to sleep in. Both begin talking again - and making academic progress - while at the school, Bonebrake said.

"Our goal is to put them into the public schools at the end of the year," she said.

Right now, 37 children attend Positive Tomorrows.

"They are great kids, but they might tend to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, because of their situations," said Laura Myers, assistant to the development director.

Parents get help finding a job

In addition, Bonebrake said, "When we enroll the child, we enroll the parent."

The homeless parents are required to volunteer at the school. They also receive clothes to apply for a job and get help with the reading and writing skills necessary to fill out job applications, Bonebrake said.

Last year, nearly 70 percent of parents had obtained a job or housing or both by the time their child's stint at Positive Tomorrows was completed.

"We work with parents the entire time. Our goal is to break the cycle of homelessness," Bonebrake said.

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