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The Mineral Wells community has a great need for intervention to change the future of children living in poverty.
A latch key program opened in February 2014 with donated supplies, snacks, and volunteers to provide a free after school program for at-risk children. The program provides a free after school program for at-risk children in grades one through six. Families who cannot afford childcare while parents work or attend school are the target population.
The program stresses good citizenship, responsibility, and skills for healthy futures. Free weekly activities include; drug and alcohol prevention, group piano lessons, karate, and "Jobs in My Future". The karate instructor emphasizes safety, respect, discipline, and provides the opportunity for the children to advance their studies in karate. "Jobs In My Future" sessions consist of community members volunteering to explain what each person
enjoys about their job and the type of schooling required to achieve that job. Volunteers from the community and student leaders from the local high school assist in leading the daily craft and physical fitness activities.
Daily organized activities help the children learn teamwork, communication, and following rules. Children receive points daily for appropriate behavior and trade these points for prizes weekly. They learn to delay gratification by saving points for higher priced items which help them develop budgeting and prioritizing skills.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities working with our high school and Tarleton State University (TSU) enrich the program.
Being associated with the Center of Life will also bring their current programs to the attention of those families
utilizing the after school program, which will result in more referrals to MWCOL's ongoing programs.
The funds would be used to pay for needed supplies, arts and craft supplies,and sports equipment, paper towles and bathroom supplies. A printer/copier, educational toys,folding tables and chairs, a lap top computer and software, and snacks.
We are planning on engaging Rotary Club members as volunteers for the "Jobs in my Future" presentations, homework help and as aides in the music, craft and sports programs. The program will run throughout the 2014/2015 school year. Starting in September 2014 and ending in May 2015. The main outlay of monies from this grant would be in the beginning of the school year. We want to have all items purchased by March 2015 so we can send the appropriate reports to Rotary in a timely manner. However, we anticipate continued involvement by club members until the end of May.
We believe this could be a project that becomes sustainable during future school years and has the potential to be expanded into a summer project as well.
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