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Campaign underway to reunite LOVE Park homeless family

Nearly $8,000 has been raised for a homeless couple whose two children were taken away from them over the weekend after their 2-year-old son was found wandering alone in Center City's LOVE Park late Friday.

Nearly $8,000 has been raised for a homeless couple whose two children were taken away from them over the weekend after their 2-year-old son was found wandering alone in Center City's LOVE Park late Friday.

Chosen 300 Ministries said it hopes to raise $12,000 to get the family an apartment for a year and allow the parents and their children to be reunited.

Brian Jenkins, Chosen 300's executive director, said early Monday it had raised $7,800 so far.

In addition, the group, which tends to the homeless, said it was looking for a hotel that would put up the family for a week and a rental complex that would waive a credit check.

Jenkins said Chosen 300 staff will work with the family to provide case management, money management and social services "to move them toward self-sufficiency."

"We know this family as they have come to our mission often to receive meals," Jenkins said in a statement. "We have witnessed their love and care for their two children, but have fallen on hard times."

The family's plight became known after the 2-year-old boy was found wandering alone and barefoot in Center City's LOVE Park Friday night.

Police said that the child's father and mother reported the boy missing shortly after he was discovered about 11:50 p.m. in another part of the park.

The parents told police that they were spending the night in the park after they were kicked out of the place they had been staying, and that the boy wandered off after they had fallen asleep.

Medics took the child to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was admitted for evaluation. The boy and his 4-year-old sister were placed in the custody of the Department of Human Services. No charges have been filed.

Donations can be made at http://chosen300.org/