The Good Neighbors Programs

During the Summer School session at Burnt Chimney, Dudley and Windy Gap elementary schools in Franklin County and Body Camp, Moneta and Huddleston elementary schools in Bedford County , the Good Neighbors program provides approximately 250 children with sack lunches. The summer school is in session for either two or three weeks. The food is packed, delivered and distributed by volunteers. On Fridays, a backpack filled with food for six meals and a new book is given to each child to take home.

Beginning in mid-June, a four-week Day Camp is offered for 50 rising 1^st through 4^th graders in the Franklin County schools, followed by a 4-week camp for the Bedford schools in mid-July. Priority for camp participation is given to children who qualify for the free or reduced-cost meals program.

Beginning at 8 a.m., children are served a simple breakfast and take part in games and other activities with the six college interns. Programmed large and small-group activities begin at 9 a.m. with singing and other interactive activities. At 9:30 the children go in to small groups with their interns for 30 minutes of reading and telling stories related to the curricular themes for that week and day. These themes emphasize Good Neighbor values such as living peacefully, honesty, integrity, compassion, living in harmony with nature and people from other cultures, the importance of family and community, as well as understanding their own value and importance in the world.

Between 10 and 12 noon, each child spends 30 minutes, one-on-one, with a volunteer Reading Buddy (mentor), 30 minutes in art activities that connect with the theme for that day, and 30 minutes in planned, supervised recreational activities that promote physical activity and team building.

After lunch, the children take part in active, enrichment programs related to: nature and the environment, understanding how people live in other countries such as Haiti and Tanzania, non-violent conflict resolution and living peacefully in the world, and healthy living related to nutrition, physical activity and nurturing self-esteem.

As part of these enrichment programs, we work with the Roanoke Children’s Theatre on Friday of every week. Each day ends with 30 minutes in Writers Workshop where children work on writing and telling their own stories followed by snacks and dismissal at 3 p.m.