Homeless students get graduation boost from nonprofit

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -

Clark County School District leaders say at least 9,000 of their students are homeless.

As one of those homeless teens prepared for graduation on Wednesday, members of a Las Vegasnonprofit were on hand to congratulate her.

Maleeka Thomas is set to graduate from Sunrise Mountain High School. She, along with her twobrothers, two sisters and mother live at The Shade Tree, a Las Vegas shelter.

"It's really difficult because I stress, sometimes about my family and my situation," she said.

Sisters Savannah and Siena Prenger have been collecting graduation gift baskets, merchandise andgift certificates with their organization, Teens Helping Teens. They're being handed out to homelessstudents and those who are economically disadvantaged.

"We started this charity about three years ago because we've always done charity work growing upwith our mom, and we started to see where pieces were missing, and that was teenagers," SavannahPrenger said.

"Seeing the faces on kids whenever you do something good for them is amazing, and it's exciting. It'salmost selfish because the reward I get from that is amazing all on its own," Siena Prenger said.

Thomas said that after graduation she plans to enroll in culinary school.

For more information on Teens Helping Teens, click here.

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http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/29175159/homeless-students-get-graduation-boost-from-nonprofit