CKids Homework Center

Homework Center is 1!!!  Reach4Hope, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing, mentoring and serving the youth of South Dallas/Fair Park, is excited to be celebrating CKids Homework Center’s one year birthday!  We started this after school program a year ago with five elementary children who needed a quiet place to do homework, get some school supplies and adult direction with school projects.. and here we are a year later easily feeding and helping over 20 kids per day. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the growth in supporting the wonderful youth of South Dallas.  Let’s have a great 2012!

What a fantastic Fall semester we’ve had.   The last report card sharing event showed EVERYONE – all 20 students – improved their grades (with one exception, and we’re working on that).  So proud of the commitment these students have made to their education.

THANK YOU to everyone who has encouraged, supported and donated to make Homework Center such a success. Extraordinary things happen when prayer, love and and encouragement blend together.  In the past months we have seen such positive increase in the children – longer focus and attention time to their work, more cooperation and enjoyment of one another (as they learn to build inside THEIR community), higher value placed on personal work ethic, accountability and FINISHING, deeper trusting relationships with adults that truly care for them, and a hunger to learn and expand more of their world.

Family style Thanksgiving

College game day with Texas Tech v. Baylor at Cowboys Stadium

Tailgating at Cowboy Stadium!

Christmas decorating, and BINGO party

Excited for the Playground to open!

Many, many thanks to Pastor Chris Simmons,  Ashanti and Richard Smith (Project Leaders), Cornerstone CDC, KaBOOM!, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and the community for making this new neighborhood playground a reality.  Over 600 volunteers pitched in to build it in ONE DAY.  Homework Center kids celebrated Wednesday by finishing homework fast,  enjoying burgers on the grill,  watching with anticipation as the caution tape come down, then RACING to play.   We are very blessed, indeed.  Thank you again for the many hours of enjoyment to come.

CKids Homework Center kicked off the Fall 2011 semester with more exciting changes! With the addition of new Volunteer Leaders, we have been able to continue renovating and refreshing the building to make it more youth-friendly AND offer a place for high school students.    This now allows us to welcome Kindergarten through 12th graders after school.  The meal and fellowship time is shared with all the kids and Leaders, then the high school students break off into the next door building to complete their work.

We are grateful to all those who are making this growth possible and supporting the youth of S. Dallas and Fair Park. Specifically, we want to thank:

• New volunteers:  Heather Rich, Marcia Johunkin, Eric Croucher and Chris Siebert
• Returning volunteers:  Sarah Russell, Rebecca Robson, Ronnie Gallant, Dr. Rhiannon Hull, Corey Trahan, James Woodard
• Our new internet / computer lab donors:  Allied IT Solutions
• Our cool outdoor sign donor:  Kristin Hawk at MSigns

Taking our work seriously..

One on One help..

Thanks Allied IT Solutions for our Computer Lab!

CKids Homework Center kicks off the first day of school, August 22 from 3PM – 6PM.   We are hoping for 40 neighborhood students grades K through 8th grade this year and have expanded our after school program days – Monday through Friday (with Friday being a movie/fun/speaker day).     Our program is free to S. Dallas neighborhood students and includes a daily meal, devotional time, mentoring with caring adults, and help with school homework and projects.

All students are encouraged to attend the BACK TO SCHOOL Event at Cornerstone Baptist Church, Saturday August 20 from 10AM to noon, at 1819 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., to be blessed with a FREE backpack and age appropriate school supplies to start the new school year.  Thank you to Cornerstone’s sister churches for providing these to our children!

If you or your student is interested in attending CKids Homework Center or learning about volunteering/giving opportunities please contact Suzanne Trahan at info@reach4hope.com or by calling 214-426-5468.

Grand Prize Winner! Kalaii and buddy Garrett

Congratulations to our Bingo Party Grand Prize Winner, Kalaii!!

To celebrate the end of the Spring semester, all Homework Center students were invited to a Bingo Party to celebrate and enjoy amazing prizes, great food and fellowship.  Everyone came out a winner and went home with a great prize, we were blessed by many friends  of the Homework Center and college buddies who were able to attend and play with us, and hugged good-bye for the summer break.   Enjoy some of the pictures by clicking the SLIDE SHOW LINK below..

CKids Bingo Party-Medium