Many
area families in need are doing better thanks to an affordable after
school program.
Dozens
of area children have a place to go after school thanks to a
revitalized Amarillo's Maverick Boys & Girls club. This
non-profit organization was on the verge of closing a few years ago,
but is now expanding.
Kimber
Daniel is the Interim Executive Director. She says, "The
Mavericks really turned around. We've had wonderful community
support. Our members and our parents have really stepped in and
helped us. The grants from our local foundations and agencies."
Annabell
Gonzalez is a single mom of three who's been living in Amarillo and
has had her children at this after school program since September of
last year. She says, "It's hard for me to work and find a
place to take my kids and know that they're going to be ok."
Representatives
tell us they're currently serving around 175 children everyday
compared to about 125 before. Program
Coordinator Alise Craig says, "We can make sure that we're
helping them with their homework. We have partnered with Sylvan
learning center. So there is a group of our kids that get to
participate in, right now, math tutoring." Gonzalez says, "This
place has helped her a lot (her daughter). She's growing to be more
independent, more caring. She's learned how to give back to the
community. She's involved and enrolled in everything that she can,
and my boys as well."
Thanks
to a partnership with Payless ShoeSource, about 70 area children were
able to get a new pair of shoes; Some of which were given out
Thursday for free.
Gonzalez
says, "They were like "Look! We got new shoes. And we got to
pick our own shoes. And I was like ok. I mean, they were excited and
thankful. I mean, one of my boys as soon as he got them he put them
on. And he's not taken them off ever since."
The
club is focusing on building membership and retaining kids throughout
the teen years so they can make a greater impact on their lives.
Jessica
Abuchaibe, NewsChannel 10.
