Providing Education in Portland
Partnering with Portland Public Schools during the Pandemic
2020 has been a year of uncertainty and challenges for everyone, not least our little folks who were just figuring out ‘normal’ when everything became topsy-turvy. In spite of all they’re going through, our neighborhood kids continue to spread their own flavor of cheer and excitement, and it is our joy to find ways to continue to offer programs that will surround them with growing opportunities and lots of love.
We are partnering with East End Community School to provide a place where kids can have classes on the days when they would not be able to attend school in person. This is a tall order, but we are grateful for the chance to stand in the gap for our neighborhood elementary students.
Miraculously, God has provided a number of volunteers who are both passionate about education and eminently qualified to teach. This program runs on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 am to 1 pm and gives kids the perfect place to work on homework, connect with a teacher over the internet or hone reading, writing and math skills.
“We are providing a structured environment where children can do their school work. This is one way we can bring some order to the chaos for neighborhood children and express God’s care for them”.
- Mary Stockmeyer, retired teacher and volunteer
The kids who attend this program find a consistent daily routine that includes lots of ‘wiggle time’ and fun. Mary Stockmeyer, a retired teacher who helps to run the program said, “We are providing a structured environment where children can do their school work. This is one way we can bring some order to the chaos for neighborhood children and express God’s care for them”. Sean Noe, Children’s Program Coordinator who oversees the program noted that he had a number of great opportunities to answer questions from the kids about his faith and to hear from them about theirs.
WILL YOU HELP US KEEP GOOD WORK LIKE THIS GOING!
After-school Opportunities for Neighborhood Children
We also continue to run after-school programs that major on activity and connection. With home-made obstacle courses, soccer and basketball drills, and walks on sunny days, we are able to provide nourishment and joy into the lives of our littlest neighbors.
This past week, two 11 year old boys from Iraq began to share about how Covid-19 had affected their families, both in the US and in Iraq, having lost family members. They talked about how difficult it was for them to be so far apart from loved ones as they faced life threatening events.
Later an exuberant game of Uno brought 10 kids together from almost as many countries and thoughts of Covid-19 were left far behind as they fought to prove their Uno mastery and proclaim themselves the victor.
Kids are longing, as most of us are, for relationships and joy in their daily lives. As so much of the country struggles to regain a sense of normalcy it is more important than ever for our neighborhood kids to realize that they are safe and loved and they still have a place to go to find someone who cares.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR OUR MINISTRY!
WE CAN’T DO THIS WORK WITHOUT YOU.
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