THANK YOU for the outstanding support our organization received from churches, schools, civic organizations, businesses and individuals for our 2009 programs.  Although numbers don’t tell the entire story, they do provide some insights about the complexity of the programs.

SML Good Neighbors provides two programs during the summer, the Summer School Sack Lunch and Weekend Backpack Program to students enrolled in five schools in Bedford and Franklin counties, and two, four-week Summer Day Camps, one in Bedford County and one in Franklin County with priority given to children qualified for the free or reduced-cost school lunch program. The data below describe the number of children we served and some of the things we provided:

* 75 children participated in the Summer Day Camps

* 127 children in Bedford County summer school received sack lunches each day for three weeks

* 216 children in the Bedford and Franklin County summer schools received weekend backpacks with food for six meals & a new book each week of summer school

* The combined totals for Day Camps and Summer School programs are:

• 3,405 lunches served
• 1,500 breakfasts and snacks served
• 291 backpacks given to children
• 5,154 meals provided in the backpacks
• 681 new books provided in the backpack program

These figures describe the magnitude of our current programs, but they can never measure the impact of our presence, love and respect on these children. Thank all of you for “showing up”.

All of this effort was for a single purpose – to provide programs that enrich the lives of children in our community during the summer. With the generosity and support of hundreds of people, we launched this program, and with your continuing support we pledge to keep it going.

"A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."  *

* From Within My Power by Forest Witcraft

 School Year Volunteers Needed

Several of the Good Neighbors volunteers are volunteering their time as mentors at Moneta Elementary School and Dudley Elementary School. This program was started in the Fall as a collaborative program with the school principals. The feedback from volunteers and the principals has been wonderful. However, there is an on-going need for more volunteer support at both schools. At Dudley Elementary School, reading support is needed.  Ten students that could benefit from a “Reading Buddy” have been identified. At Moneta Elementary School, enrichment support is needed.  The time commitment at each school is about one hour per week.

As SML Good Neighbors’ volunteers, you know first-hand the difference your involvement can make in the lives of these students.  Cindy Decker, a member of the SML Good Neighbors’ Board, is facilitating this effort.  If you are interested in expanding your work with children, contact Cindy at : deck-rs.sml@erols.com  and let her know where you would like to volunteer.  Cindy will then coordinate your participation with the principals.

Thank you for your work in service to the children.