Dream of One, Mission of Many

Dream of One, Mission for Many

Kids of the Community reaching out to children in need

BY LISA SAVAGE

Tyler Keener struggled in math, barely getting by when he started at Kids of the Community’s after-school program several years ago. But help with homework and one-on-one tutoring in math through the program have made a big difference for the Warren County High School senior.

Christie Allison, a volunteer for Kids of the Community and director of tutoring, provided aid that Keener says turned his math grades around. “She has helped me learn so much,” he says. “I appreciate everything they’ve done for me.”

But it’s more than just homework and tutoring. Kids of the Community, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making a better life for all children, provides opportunities and activities for about 220 kids in the McMinnville area. “I’ve been able to go places and do things I never could have done without Kids of the Community,” Keener says.

It’s kids like Keener who motivate Allison to make sure kids have a safe place to go after school, to receive help with homework and to have fun activities to do throughout the year.

Kids of the Community started about 20 years ago as a vision of Barry Dishman, director of juvenile courts in Warren County. “Kids would end up in court, and he would ask them ‘Why did you get in trouble?’” Allison says. “They would tell him they didn’t have anything else better to do, so he set out to change that.”

Kids of the Community flows through the juvenile courts system, and Dishman is the director of Kids of the Community. Lacy Jones and Haile Adams, probation officers for juvenile courts, also are coordinators for Kids of the Community.

Christie Allison, a volunteer with Kids of the Community since its beginning, is director of tutoring.

Dishman asked Allison, also a teacher with Warren County Schools, for her help in getting the program off the ground. The programs are geared toward at-risk kids, and annual family income must be less than $25,000. “It’s about being a mentor for these kids and helping them to become better people,” she says.

The first year, Allison and others took a group to the Warren County fair as one of the first outings. “Most of these kids had never been to the fair because they couldn’t afford it,” Allison says.

She, Dishman and other volunteers sought donations to cover the $25 cost per child to go to the fair and $5 to spend at the fair. That year, they took 25 kids. “This past year, we took 100,” Allison says. In exchange for a break on the costs, the kids help clean the fairgrounds and grandstands.

LEARNING TOOLS

In the first few years, tutoring was only on Saturdays, and about six kids attended. Now, about two dozen kids attend tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “We need teachers and retired teachers to volunteer for our tutoring program,” Allison says. “The children are hungry to learn, and they greatly benefit from one-on-one instruction from knowledgeable and compassionate individuals who are willing to give their time.”

Kids of the Community differs from some after-school programs because there’s transportation for kids who need a ride home. Some of the other after-school programs don’t include taking them home, Allison says.

“We feed them a meal, make sure they’ve got all their homework done or help with homework if they need it,” she says. “Then, we make sure they get home. We have parents who can’t pick up their kids and don’t have transportation.”

Kids of the Community has the philosophy that all kids have the right to be important and recognized and that they have the right to learn fundamental core values from responsible adults. One-on-one contact on a regular basis in structured activities with a caring, responsible adult can instill direction and a positive attitude to children at risk.

FUN AND GAMES

It’s not all work and no play. Events scheduled throughout the year keep the kids involved. There are parties for major holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as kayaking trips on the river, a backyard Bible club in June, a back-to-school pool party and the fair in September. When they host Super Saturdays, the children are invited to attend for the day for different kinds of motivational activities, and two meals are provided.

The organization also sponsors Paddlefest, a kayak race and float open to the public. “Paddlefest is a huge fundraiser for us,” Allison says. “The kids do all the work, serve the food and do whatever needs doing. It’s how we fund many of our programs for the whole year.”

To get ready for Paddlefest, the kids also work to clean up the river, and they take a lot of pride in the process. “Now, it’s like they want to see what all they can find. It’s like a mission,” she says.

Kids of the Community also offers cooking classes, gardening lessons and other fun activities, especially in summer.

The Kids of the Community building used to be a pool hall and later an office supply store before it was donated to the organization. “God blessed us with a great location,” Allison says. A kitchen addition made it easier to feed the kids, and many of the renovations and additions were possible through grants.

Volunteers are needed for tutoring but also for helping with other events and activities. Others can assist by becoming financial sponsors for children, especially at Christmas.

“At Christmas, the majority of our kids are sponsored by employees of Warren County Schools,” Allison says. “The employees in the schools see the needs of the kids, and that’s why they are more than willing to help financially.”

Since its start, Kids of the Community has grown and benefited the lives of many kids. Allison says it has also made an impact on her life.

“I can have a busy day, and I’m tired. Then, I go in and those kids come running up to give me a hug, and my tiredness just goes away,” she says. “We provide things they need, but it provides things I need, too. It’s been such a blessing for many.”

KIDS OF THE COMMUNITY

Kids of the Community provides signature yellow andblue shirts, which kids must wear to all events.Only children registered with Kids of the Community canattend events. Participation is income-based.For more information call 931-668-5437 orvisit www.kidsofthecommunity.com.681 Cadillac Lane, McMinnville