Kids from low-income families were given a bite to eat and a little knowledge, courtesy of a UCF student group.
Rock for Hunger, a student organization, started an after-school program during fall 2007 to help more than 40 children from the Paramore district of downtown Orlando.
Tutors and Meals takes place every Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the John H. Jackson Community Center on Carter Street.
The group hopes to one day run its own center and provide its services every day but needs more space. Getting volunteers and funding has proven to be the largest obstacle to this goal.
In the classroom, renderings of Martin Luther King, Jr. hang on the wall along with a painting of a globe that has "Keep Orlando Clean. Think Globally. Act Locally," written above it.
The children were boisterous while they practiced basic math skills in adding and subtracting.
"We primarily work on math and reading," said Chris Goyzueta, the communications graduate student who started Rock for Hunger. "Some of them aren't at their grade level. They need to be, so we're helping them get there and above."
For reading skills, Clara Merone, a health sciences and liberal studies alumna, read The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.
"We ask questions to see if they comprehend the story," Merone said. "It also builds group interaction and calms them down. We work on everything. We switch it up. We don't have a set routine."
Rock for Hunger strives to alleviate poverty for citizens of Orlando by feeding the homeless on Mondays at 7 p.m. at the old post office on Jefferson Street and Magnolia Avenue. The group also offers job training and resume building on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at the downtown library.
Rock for Hunger raised more than $9,000 for the Second Harvest Food Bank and the organization's programs last November during its annual Rock for Hunger Fest concert series.
Angela Griner, lead singer of the band Lona that performed at Rock for Hunger Fest 2 and a former teacher for nine years, formulates the lesson plan and also leads the students in sing-a-longs with her guitar. The last song taught the students how to say hello in different languages.
"Our goal is to help kids who are performing low through lack of resources," Griner said. "In some cases, the parents are working two to three jobs to make ends meet."
During fall 2008, Griner will begin graduate studies in education leadership, individualized toward global perspectives and ways of working with non-profits. She plans to write her dissertation on Rock for Hunger's efforts.
After the math lesson, the papers were graded and candy was passed out to everyone. The most well-behaved students received first dibs.
"A lot of you did well today. You got A's," Merone said. "For those of you that didn't, all you need to do is practice, and in the next few weeks I want to see progress."
Rock for Hunger provides a meal after tutoring to ensure the students have something in their stomachs to hold them over until dinner. The meal last Friday included a selection of bologna, peanut butter and jelly - or just peanut butter or just jelly - and sugar-free lemon creme cookies.
A game of "Heads Up, Seven Up," with the rarely followed rule of no cheating or peeking, followed the meal to fill the time before the children were to leave.
"The city funds the Jackson Center and other after-school programs, but there is still a bigger need," Goyzueta said. "When I drive around, I see a lot of kids hang out on the streets. There needs to be a better way to get them off the streets."
Merone said she believes the younger the student who can be reached, the better the chance that student has to succeed.
"I always like to help kids with empowering them," Merone said. "This was a great opportunity to get involved with the kids' programs. To tutor them, mentor them and help them realize their goals and aspirations that they have, so they can come back to the program that helped make them who they are and give back. It's all about giving back."
Be the first to comment on this article!