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Children Incorporated | February 1, 2021En Español

In 1963, President Kennedy formed a state-federal cooperative committee known as the President’s Appalachian Regional Commission (PARC). Its purpose was to develop a comprehensive economic development model for Appalachia, where one out of three Appalachian people lived in poverty; the per capita income was just 23% of the national income; and where, by the end of the 1950’s, two million people had left the region due to lack of economic opportunity. The Commission released its report in 1964, which was the same year in which Children Incorporated was founded.

Over the last few months, I held “virtual visits” with our coordinators as they discussed the impact of the sudden closures of their schools due to the pandemic, and how it will affect the 2021 school year, and more.

The Appalachian region was originally dependent on agriculture, forestry, and mining. Its economy has since grown and become more diverse, and many counties have improved their economic status from the distressed category. However, many areas of the region still need basic infrastructure, such as electricity, paved roads, and water and sewer systems — and high-speed internet.

Research has shown that geographic isolation is the major driver, historically and currently, for economic stagnation. The second driver was — and remains — poor access to adequate healthcare. In part due to their isolation, Appalachian people were often at the mercy of the weather — snowstorms drove people off the mountainous roads and into their homes for days at a time, thus reducing economic productivity. On a micro level, the rugged and poor roads kept people separated from one another, making pooled or shared riding less feasible. On a macro level, the mountainous terrain made it more difficult to get railroads established in Appalachia, even decades after trains could travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific. This made it more challenging to get goods shipped for sale, and thus much less attractive for larger manufacturers to locate in Appalachia. Furthermore, geographic isolation led to a lack of education in the Appalachian Mountain region. Many students found they had to drop out of school to help support their families.

When the Appalachian Regional Commission was created, the 29 western North Carolina counties that fell within the Appalachian Mountain region were all economically distressed.

From the 1990’s through now, North Carolina’s counties have steadily made economic gains, but poverty is still rampant in certain areas, and today, Children Incorporated offers sponsorship support in four counties because there are still many at-risk and/or transitional sections in each county with many children in great need.

Renée hosted virtual meetings with our coordinators in North Carolina due to the pandemic.

Over the last few months, I held “virtual visits” with our coordinators as they discussed the impact of the sudden closures of their schools due to the pandemic, and how it will affect the 2021 school year, and more.

Alleghany High School

I had a nice Zoom meeting with our new Volunteer Coordinator, Hannah, at Alleghany County High. She is really taking our program seriously — she had a Zoom meeting for an hour prior to our meeting with the former coordinator, Lucy, who transferred to another school. Hannah wanted to ask Lucy what it’s like being a coordinator, what she enjoyed and what she found challenging.

Before becoming a counselor, Hannah was a teacher for eight years, including in the Alleghany County, North Carolina school system. She grew up here, graduated from UNC Chapel Hill, and then returned home. Hannah holds a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees. She knows the community and families very well. We are lucky to have her volunteering for our program.

We talked about the county’s economy, which is hanging in there, about the same through the pandemic. Some businesses are really struggling, but most are hanging on.

We talked about staffing and her workload. Hannah said that her new job has been very demanding — learning the new position as a counselor, learning how to operate the Children Incorporated sponsorship program, and then tackling the pandemic. Despite its challenges, Hannah understands the value of our program, and that was very apparent based on a story she told me about one of our sponsored children.

“Sponsors really are a blessing, and I can’t express enough how I appreciate mine.”

Lesley* and Hannah spoke on the phone in order to do a “socially distanced check-in.” Lesley told Hannah , “My sponsor is such a blessing to my family and me. It’s so great having a Christmas dinner delivered to our doorstep every year, it makes me feel so thankful and grateful for my sponsor. I get a yearbook every year because of my sponsor, and I wouldn’t be getting one if it weren’t for him. It’s a really great feeling knowing that you have an angel on earth looking out for you. Sponsors really are a blessing, and I can’t express enough how I appreciate mine. Having a sponsor really does make a difference in a life and if it weren’t for them, I don’t know where a lot of students would be.”

Glade Creek Elementary School

I had a virtual project meeting with our Volunteer Coordinator, Laurie, via FaceTime. Laurie works as the school’s secretary and finance officer.

Glade Creek is located in the community of Ennice in the northeastern part of Alleghany county. Outside of town, the land is immediately rural, dotted with small farms. It is an area of great natural beauty.

Just east of the town is Cumberland Knob, the point where the Blue Ridge Parkway first began construction in 1935. It was the parkway’s first recreation area open to the public. There is a picnic area and a recreation field that visitors and residents are welcome to use.

Our sponsored children are benefiting so much from their sponsors even despite school interruptions in 2020.

Laurie said it has been challenging to access all of the children, but the staff has made it work. They are still on Re-Opening Plan B, which means the buildings are at 50% capacity. Students alternate between in-person and online instruction.

“Most of the families that our sponsorship programs serve consist of adults who work in the county seat, Sparta, at low wage jobs, or they are farm laborers. Some are struggling small farmers. And some are retired grandparents and great grandparents who have custody of the children,” said Laurie.

Piney Creek Elementary School

I had a virtual project meeting with our Volunteer Coordinator, Ashley, via Zoom. Ashley works at the school as an administrative assistant. She gets some help with our program from Amanda, who is the school secretary.

Ashley said last spring term, she was shocked at the suddenness with which schools closed and went on fully virtual learning. Teachers scrambled — and succeeded — at a variety of methods to keep the students engaged and learning online. With this fall term on the state’s Reopening Plan B, Ashley is hoping everyone can get the kids back on as much of a normal routine as possible.

Piney Creek is located northwest of Sparta. The New River — yes, the same one that winds through West Virginia and Virginia — flows just west of town.

The community has small family farms, rather than larger ones that employ many laborers. Most are dairy and beef cows. A little south of town is one larger one, Fir Ridge Tree Farm.

Many of the adults in the community commute to the county seat, Sparta, for work. Some go over the state line into Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. About 18% live below the poverty line, which is higher than the national average of 10.5%.

Sparta Elementary School

I had a virtual project meeting with our Volunteer Coordinator, Mandy, via FaceTime. Mandy works as the school receptionist. She gets some assistance with our program from Pam, a former coordinator at Piney Creek who transferred to Sparta. Pam is the school treasurer, and she helps Mandy primarily with the financial reporting, but also sometimes with shopping.

The pandemic has disrupted not just instruction, but athletics, clubs and activities, traditions, and assistance.

Sparta is the county seat. It is the one census tract area of the county that is considered economically distressed. In town, the highest percentage of people living below the poverty line are actually young women 18-24. Many of these are young single mothers. Of the impoverished people living in town, the largest percentage is white, followed by Hispanic/Latino.

There are five low income apartment communities in town, and a significant number of our program-enrolled children at Sparta Elementary School live in one of these units.

Mandy said the adults who live in these apartments have low education and few, if any, have marketable skills. They work very hard at service jobs, such as fast food restaurants, gas stations and convenience stores, and retail at some of the mom-and-pop stores. Some work two jobs. They still don’t make enough money to provide for their children, and there can be a sense of despair. Mandy said our organization’s sponsorship program makes the kids feel hope, and know that someone believes they can succeed and have a better life.

When the schools closed suddenly in March due to the pandemic, lesson plans were done hastily. Teachers and students did not have time to say a proper goodbye before summer break began. The teachers took “sign selfies” — pictures of them holding inspirational messages — and sent them to the kids. These made the children feel special and motivated to keep up with their class work. They knew the teachers would be checking on both their academics and their well-being.

Mitchell County High School

Mitchell County High is the only high school in the county. It serves about 500 students in grades 9-12.

Inspirational messages from teachers and staff often help children to remain positive and hopeful.

Our coordinator, Alexandra, is the school social worker. She feels our sponsorship program is a natural fit and is happy to have our resources for her students. Alex is especially concerned about the students who have “fallen off the grid” during the pandemic. She said in Mitchell County, like in many rural areas, the high school is more than academics. It is a community center. Families come to cheer the football team, the Mountaineers, and they wear their purple and white. It’s the kids’ social life. It is where the most vulnerable get free breakfast and lunch, and for some it is the only food they’ll get. The pandemic has disrupted not just instruction, but athletics, clubs and activities, traditions, and assistance. Alex said most of the students are learning resilience, and they know this won’t be forever. But some cannot handle online instruction, and they are not showing up for their virtual lessons.

Bowman Middle School

I had a virtual project meeting with our Volunteer Coordinators, Rachel and Crystal, via FaceTime. They have worked well together. Rachel is a retired teacher who still helps out in the school and community, and Crystal is the guidance counselor.

Rachel and Crystal said that last spring was crazy, but they managed to get sponsorship benefits to the children by picking up their items at school. They were all masked and social distancing as best as they could.

Both shared that during this pandemic, childcare options have been a big problem for parents. They used Children Incorporated funds and bought bleach for disinfecting, detergent, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and those were given out via school pick-up. They have already ordered Jansport backpacks for all our sponsored kids. Once school started, they emailed a survey to parents asking for input on their kids’ greatest needs and then shopped accordingly so each child was getting exactly what they needed.

Gouge Elementary School

This is a small kindergarten through fourth grade school serving about 265 students. The demographics are 93% white, 4% Hispanic, and 3% bi-racial. Sixty-one percent of the children come from low income families. It’s located on Laurel Street in town. Mountain laurels and rhododendrons blanket the area in the springtime and may be unofficial county symbols.

Gouge’s official mascot is the eagle, and their school motto is “SOAR: Success, Outstanding Effort, A Positive Attitude, and Respect.” Our Volunteer Coordinator, Monica, is the school secretary. She is experienced and comfortable with our program. The teachers are cooperative, and she has no trouble pulling kids out of class to write thank you letters.

Monica loves our program, and she is very conscientious about getting correspondence for sponsors. Since the pandemic, she is having to go through the teachers to access those kids whose parents have chosen wholly virtual instruction. But it’s working.

The pandemic has also been very tough on the children socially. The area is more geographically remote, and the school is the center of the community. The lack of many clubs and activities is keenly felt.

Mabel Elementary School

Lauren and Kelly are our two new co-coordinators at Mabel Elementary School. Lauren is a kindergarten teacher, and Kelly is the school nurse. They just started as coordinators in August 2020, when the new school year began. Needless to say, there is a lot to do in becoming a volunteer coordinator for Children Incorporated, and to do so during a pandemic is doubly daunting. I sent them orientation and training materials and answered questions and then held a three-way Zoom meeting. They have done a great job in steadily confirming enrollments and submitting new applications and pictures.

Mabel Elementary is a small kindergarten through eighth grade school serving about 174 children. Fifty-six percent of the children come from low income families. The school is located in the small town of Zionville, just down the road from a farm supply store. It is quite rural and is exceptionally beautiful, at some distance from the hustle and bustle of the county seat, Boone.

Valle Crucis Elementary School

I had a virtual project meeting with our Volunteer Coordinator, Traci, via Zoom. She was actually my first “virtual project visit” of the 2020-2021 school year.

This school is 82 years old. In 2019, a group of architects was hired to assess Watauga County Schools’ buildings. Some were deemed worthy of repairs, but others were deemed in need of replacement. One of the latter is Valle Crucis. The county purchased a 14-acre tract of land in the community for the purpose of new construction, located just a quarter mile from the existing structure. Members of the community have had mixed feelings, with some protesting the impact of the new building on the little town’s historic district. They are calling for a new building on the current site, even though it’s subject to flooding.

The school is located in the small community of Sugar Grove, known for its sugar maple trees, and as the site of the old Mast General Store, which is still in operation to this day. The school serves about 394 children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. Thirty-nine percent of the children come from low income families. Their parents work in Boone at low wage jobs, or they are farm laborers.

Swain Middle School

Our sponsorship program has been managed for many years by Katie, who is the school guidance counselor. She appreciates the program very much but has always struggled with the requirements due to lack of assistance.

Fortunately, this school year Katie has found not one, but two helpers. She is thrilled. Her primary helper is Sandra English, a retired teacher. Her other helper is Laura English, Sandra’s daughter- in-law. The two of them just came on board in December, and they are excited to be involved. I believe we will see faster correspondence as a result.

Students in North Carolina have missed the social interactions that school provides for them, but thankfully they are still checked-in on due to the efforts of our volunteer coordinators.

Katie and I had a “virtual visit” via Zoom. By this time, she was really seeing the impact of the pandemic as the new 2020-2021 school year was well underway.

Like many coordinators, Katie reiterated how everyone scrambled last March when the school’s first closed due to the pandemic. While the high school students had been given district-issued Chromebooks previously for online assignments, the middle and elementary students had not received them due to budget constraints and other considerations. However, once the schools shut down, Swain County Public Schools used grant funding to extend the electronic devices to middle and elementary school children, too. These were given to families at the end of March in socially distanced “Drive Through & Pick Up” appointments.

Katie said meals were also provided the same way, as well as spring subsidy purchases.

Now that 2021 has begun, Katie is seeing how families are continuing to struggle. Many do not have internet access, so the district-issued electronic devices are useless at home. As they were doing last spring, families are continuing to drive from their homes throughout the county into Bryson City, where officials and business groups have cooperatively set up eleven WiFi hotspots. The kids sit in the cars and do their schoolwork for hours. The situation is difficult. Of course, most of the students are in the school buildings two days a week with the Plan B learning schedule. However, about one third of the families have chosen Plan C, fully virtual, for their children. Katie said most of these are her Children Incorporated-enrolled children, many of whom are raised by grandparents or who have parents with health conditions that make them at higher risk. Katie worries about them.

Katie sets up Google Meets with her students and their parents or guardians. But after doing so much online learning, many of the children are not excited about logging on again to discuss things with her. She persists, but it may take several attempts to connect.

Katie sent me some activity pictures for the sponsors after she did her holiday shopping. Each child received a Christmas gift bag containing a stocking with candy, games, and warm clothing.

East Elementary School

I had a great “virtual visit” via Google Meets with our Volunteer Coordinator, Ciera. She is the school guidance counselor, and she is still fairly new. Ciera was hired last October in place of the previous counselor who left to take a position closer to her home.

This school year Swain County, like the other counties in North Carolina, had the option to begin instruction on Plan B (blended/hybrid) or Plan C (fully remote). The county chose Plan B, although parents may opt for Plan C on a case-by-case basis. Ciera said it has worked well in terms of logistics and operations — social distancing is easily accomplished. She can see many of the students in person, but everything takes longer. The Plan B students are divided into two groups. One attends classes on Mondays and Tuesdays, and the other attends on Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesdays are for deep cleaning, parent meetings, tutoring, etc.

A good portion of the parents are not comfortable with their kids being in the school buses and buildings, and they’ve chosen Plan C. Those students have been much harder for Ciera to reach, some of which have been her Children Incorporated-enrolled children.

I have to say the “virtual visits” are very successful. The coordinators are eager to share what they are doing, and how sponsors’ support is continuing to make a big difference in the lives of vulnerable children. A huge thanks to our amazing sponsors and donors!

With so many families lacking internet access, their electronic devices are useless — but thankfully the county has partners who have literally opened their parking lots and are glad to have families drive there and use their free Wi-Fi. But not all the families take advantage on a daily basis, and it is apparent that some children are falling behind.

West Elementary School

I had an excellent “virtual visit” via Zoom with our Volunteer Coordinator. His name is Neil Holden, and he is the school guidance counselor.

As its name suggests, the school is at the western end of the county and includes some of the most rural and remote areas. There are 435 children enrolled, and all qualify for free or reduced meals. Neil said the most important thing during this pandemic has been feeding the children. “It’s hard to learn when your stomach is growling and you’re wondering when you’re going to get enough food.”

He is working with the students on building resilience through visits to the classrooms and virtually with those who have chosen the fully remote learning option.

On behalf of all of us at Children Incorporated, we are incredibly grateful for the support or our sponsors for kids in North Carolina — and around the world.

Neil said this has been very difficult for parents and guardians who work, as there are few quality before and after school childcare providers. Thus, about 70% of his parents and guardians chose Plan B, so their kids are at least in the school building two days a week. The 30% who chose Plan C (fully remote) are primarily households with older adults or those with medical conditions that make them vulnerable. Because of those 30%, it has been very easy to keep the classrooms socially distanced.

The pandemic has also been very tough on the children socially. The area is more geographically remote, and the school is the center of the community. The lack of many clubs and activities is keenly felt.

Neil chose a couple of his students for our child spotlights, and he wrote personally about them. He takes our program seriously and is a real asset to our organization.

A thanks to our sponsors

Nothing can replace travel and in-person visits to our affiliated projects. There is nothing like sitting down with a coordinator and discussing how he or she feels our program is doing, the impact it is having on the children, and any special goals or needs for the future.

However, during this pandemic, I have to say the “virtual visits” are very successful. The coordinators are eager to share what they are doing, and how sponsors’ support is continuing to make a big difference in the lives of vulnerable children.

A huge thanks to our amazing sponsors and donors!

*Name changed to protect the child.

***

HOW DO I SPONSOR A CHILD?

You can sponsor a child with Children Incorporated in one of three ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | February 1, 2021En Español

*Note: The school visit mentioned in this blog occurred prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we are currently conducting school visits virtually, our On the Road stories remain relevant in regards to our volunteer coordinators’ work and the impact of sponsorship on children in our program thanks to our sponsors. We are pleased to continue to share stories with you about our work.

***

Located in rural and mountainous eastern Kentucky, Breathitt County is one of the 100 poorest counties in the United States. The economic prospects of Breathitt County are, at best, bleak. The coal mining industry that once dominated this area and provided employment for the majority of its population has been declining.

Children here not only struggle with lack of basic needs, such as food, clothing, and school supplies, but they are also often in dire need of encouragement and positive interaction with adults.

Today, there are few job opportunities for the area: three small factories, a community college, a grocery store, a department store, a small medical center, a juvenile detention center, and the county education system. Many families who once relied upon mining jobs for income now depend upon part-time employment at minimum wages or federal assistance such as welfare checks and food stamps.

Tragically, drug and alcohol abuse are common, both stemming from and further contributing to these difficult socioeconomic circumstances. Children here, therefore, not only struggle with lack of basic needs, such as food, clothing, and school supplies, but they are also often in dire need of encouragement and positive interaction with adults. Many of them lack positive role models who can teach them how to maintain strong moral values and to be and have friends of good character and caliber.

A loving and supportive volunteer coordinator

Thankfully, children at Sebastian Elementary School have our volunteer coordinator, Genevieve, at the school’s Family Resource Center.

“Genevieve is a caring and dedicated staff member who is thrilled to partner with Children Incorporated sponsors to better equip students with the basic essentials and offer them a positive influence,” said Renée Kube, our Director of U.S. Programs.

Renée is pictured with one of our sponsored children.

“It is always a pleasure and a treat to spend time Genevieve when I visit Breathitt County. She is another very long-serving coordinator and was the one who brought our organization to her school in 2004. She always goes above and beyond for her students.”

Parents lending a helping hand

During her most recent meeting at Sebastian Elementary School, Genevieve introduced Renée to her parent assistant, Jennifer.

“Jennifer is a wonderful help to Genevieve — and of course to our sponsorship program,” said Renée.

“She is the fourth assistant Genevieve has worked with through a program that places mothers in part-time employment at the school. Each of the previous mothers with whom Genevieve has worked has gone on to regular, full-time employment, in part thanks to the experience they got working at the Family Resource Center. Genevieve is very proud of them,” explained Renée.

“It’s an amazing program — mothers get to help children in our sponsorship program that are in need, and in exchange, can work towards helping to get their own families out of poverty. It’s a win-win situation.”

***

How do I sponsor a child in Kentucky?

You can sponsor a child in Kentucky in one of two ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members or email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | January 22, 2021En Español

Although in-person meetings with our volunteer coordinators were halted due to COVID-19, our amazing staff made sure they were still able to check in with our projects around the world to ensure children in our program continued to receive the care and support they needed.

Today, hear from U.S. Sponsorship Specialist, Shelley Oxenham, about her virtual meetings with coordinators in Kentucky and how your support has made an impact through the pandemic.

Although in-person meetings with our volunteer coordinators were halted due to COVID-19, our amazing staff made sure they were still able to check in with our projects around the world to ensure children in our program continued to receive the care and support they needed.

Louisa Elementary School

“I met with our volunteer coordinator, Jessica, who told me that the school closures and quarantine have been damaging to local small businesses and to employment numbers in Louisa County.

The majority of the jobs in the county are through the healthcare system or the school system. Many healthcare workers in the area have been furloughed since March because elective surgeries and procedures have been postponed for the time being. Recently there were five job openings at a regional medical center and over 160 applicants.

Most students at Louisa Elementary have internet connections in their homes. There are only about 5-8 families that do not. These students are given a new jump drive each week with their school work loaded onto it. A school staff member has trained the students and parents on how to use the jump drive.

Families who want to meet with the coordinator have to call and make an appointment to come up to the school. Jessica is also doing a lot of home visits to make sure the kids are doing OK with their school work and to make sure they have what they need like food, hygiene items, warm clothes, and whatever else may come up.”

Lawrence County High and Louisa Middle Schools

“I spoke with Anne and Luann who co-coordinate the two schools. They are staying positive that school will resume in-person soon and families will be able to choose as to send their children or keep them at home. So far approximately 60% of the middle school parents want their kids back in school and about 50% of the high school parents.

Shelley was able to host virtual meetings with our volunteer coordinators since in-person meeting were not an option during the pandemic.

Until then, Anne and Luann’s day-to-day routine looks different than it used to without the students roaming the halls. The have been helping prepare the daily food service for their schools. The bus drivers deliver food to the children’s homes each day, giving faculty touchpoints with the families, which is a very important contact with the outside world because some kids haven’t left their home since March.

They will soon begin to do home visits to students themselves. This will also be an important touchpoint to check on the welfare of the students and to evaluate their needs. Some of the families have been calling in with needs, and Anne and Luann are quick to help.

There are not many active COVID-19 cases in the county as far as Luann and Anne know. However, the response to the virus in the area has affected the local community. Many businesses have shortened their hours creating less work time for employees. Others have shut down and employees have been furloughed.

The local hospital had to file bankruptcy because they were unable to do surgeries for the first few months of the pandemic. As far the parents of Children Incorporated sponsored children, most were unemployed before the pandemic and they continue to be. This is why the program is so important for these families.

Luann and Anne have witnessed the mental and emotional aspect of the kids during the pandemic. They are seeing a lot more anxiety and depression. Even the kids who get out on family outings are struggling. Needless to say, those who are not getting out are really struggling. They hope that school will resume, at least to give it a chance and give the students a sense of normalcy.”

Fallsburg Elementary School

“I spoke with our coordinator, Brenda, about the students and families she serves and how they are coping with the pandemic.

She said her families have experienced a lot of food insecurity during the virus. They have a food bank in the community that serves about 225 people every couple of weeks. Many of the families they are serving are experiencing food insecurity for the first time. These are mostly families who have lost an income due to closures caused by the pandemic. Fortunately, the school has also started the weekly meal delivery to the homes. These meals are delivered to each and every student whether it is needed or not.

“The kids are adjusting to the changes at different levels; some ok and others not. A lot of families do not have the internet because it is not available where they live.”

Brenda’s biggest concern is the mental health and wellbeing of the students. There is a lot of neglect, abuse and/or drug activity in some of the homes. Often a big brother or big sister is in charge of caring for younger siblings throughout the day and night, putting a lot of pressure and stress on them every day of the week. The school is a safety net for these children during the school week. A second grade teacher said she is witnessing her students have anxiety from having to sit still in front of a screen for hours in a row — it’s been really tough on the kids.

Brenda is keeping in touch with her families and checking on their needs by doing porch visits and scheduling meetings with families in the school parking lot. She said phone calls are not an effective method to root out needs; it’s better to see them face to face. Brenda uses Children Incorporated funds to purchase items these families need.

The pandemic has majorly affected funding for the drug rehab facilities and housing units in the area. Prior to the pandemic, residents of the group homes were given paid job training and leadership opportunities. When the budget was cut, these programs were no longer able to operate. Residents lost their incomes as well as their stability and many ended up back on drugs. This has been a very sad and unfortunate repercussion of the pandemic.”

Inez Elementary School

Thankfully, our coordinators are able to conduct home visits to bring our sponsored children supplies while they are out of school.

“I spoke via Facetime with our coordinator, Andrea, and asked her how COVID-19 is affecting her students and families. Andrea explained that the kids with parents who are involved in their school life and school work are doing OK. These parents are keeping their kids busy and on a schedule. Many have taken day trips or have planned activities. They make sure their kids are up in time for virtual learning and are doing their school work, and they are helping them with their schoolwork when necessary.

For other kids it is a huge step back. Many haven’t left home in months. There is no schedule; they’re staying up late and sleeping until mid-afternoon. Routines have been lost. Hygiene is a low priority. At school the teachers and staff could monitor hygiene and health. There has always been a problem with lice and hair care and this was monitored and treated at school. Now children are living with lice and their hair is matted. Food has become an issue; with children home 24/7 they are eating a lot and many families can’t afford this.

Without the busy, bustling school day, Andrea often doesn’t know how to start her day. She is ready to get into more of a routine. She is planning to do ten home visits a week, if possible, to check on her families and their needs. Many families contact her when there is a need but many do not. During each visit she plans to distribute a hygiene package.

Eden Elementary School

“I spoke with our coordinators, Marlena and Barb, via Facetime. I asked them how things were going for their students and families.

“Children Incorporated funds were very important once school closed down in mid-March. The meal buses were not taking food to the homes at that time and the supplemental income from the government had not begun so the coordinators used the money to buy food and cleaning supplies for the families.”

They told me that families in the area were handling shutdowns well and making adjustments. They said that up until the end of August the families who were living on unemployment and food stamps were actually doing OK because of the supplemental funding from the government. This funding has recently ended, and they expect these families will begin to contact the resource center for help with things like food and other basic necessities.

The kids are adjusting to the changes at different levels; some OK and others not. A lot of families do not have the internet because it is not available where they live. The school is putting lessons on flash drives which can be uploaded onto a Chromebook. The buses deliver the lessons each week. The buses also take food to the homes which is a great way to keep students and parents on a schedule and a great welfare check.

Children Incorporated funds were very important once school closed down in mid-March. The meal buses were not taking food to the homes at that time and the supplemental income from the government had not begun so the coordinators used the money to buy food and cleaning supplies for the families. Over the summer the gardening project funded by Children Incorporated was so important to the families because it gave them something to do, something to learn and provided supplemental fruits and vegetables for their pantries.”

Martin County High School

Thanks to our sponsors, kids have been provided for through school closures since last March.

“I had a Facetime meeting with Kara Beth at Martin County High School. She had just started the Youth Service Center position at the high school the day before. I asked her how her families are doing and she said most families are just rolling with it like everyone else. Kara Beth said this is a small-town community with not a lot going on anyway so the difference between now and a year ago is small other than the fact that kids can’t go to school.

She said they all feared that the families were going hungry or struggling in other ways but they were surprised it was better than they thought. If anything, the school work is the biggest struggle for these families and their children. The work is getting harder as the days go on and kids are having a hard time staying on top of it and remaining self-motivated.”

Warfield Elementary School

“I spoke with Amanda who told me that Martin County schools will begin hybrid learning; families have a choice between in-school learning or virtual learning.

Most families at Warfield have chosen to send their kids to school, especially after experiencing the small dose of virtual learning they’ve had since the start of the school year. Amanda is looking forward to when the kids return; she said the empty school building is just weird and lonely. She misses kids coming in and out of her office all day wanting to talk or needing something. Once the students return, if the school grows in COVID-19 cases, they will go back to all virtual learning. As of now, the cases in the area remain low but are projected to grow.

Amanda said most of the students have handled all of the changes OK. The kids are antsy but they’ve been rolling with it. School lessons aren’t live; the kids can do their assignments any time of day and the teachers are available during school hours for assisting students. This helps parents who work during the day to help their kids in the evenings with school work.

The impact of the virus on jobs has been felt across the community. There is a modular tiny-home/cabin factory in Inez which is adjacent to Warfield (same county) and they have furloughed all 180 employees. A lot of families drive to Pritchard, West Virginia to work at a parts factory — this is an hour drive each way.

Amanda plans to continue with her routine of shopping herself for our sponsored children instead of asking families to meet her at Walmart. She calls the parents to see what the kids need and then she goes to Walmart and shop for them and then delivers the items herself.”

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HOW DO I SPONSOR A CHILD?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | January 12, 2021En Español

When Norah Quinn McCormick reached out to us in the New Year about sponsoring a child, she told us a heartfelt story about how her grandmother first got involved with our work many years ago, largely due to the fact that she grew up in Appalachia and “never forgot where she came from,” and why now Norah wants to carry on the legacy of helping children in need.

To hear more about Norah’s story, we hosted a virtual interview with Norah in which we found out about her, her grandmother, and how they both came to believe in the power of sponsorship.

To hear more about Norah’s story, we hosted a virtual interview with her in which we found out about Norah, her grandmother, and how they both came to believe in the power of sponsorship.

SC: Where do you live and what do you do for work?

NM: I live in Washington, D.C. and work as a fundraiser for the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Maryland.

SC: How did you first find out about Children Incorporated?

NM: My Granny, Bonnie Hobbs Barron, sponsored children for as long as I can remember. I used to see pictures of sponsored children on her refrigerator. I also remember my mom sponsoring a child shortly after my Granny passed away.

SC: Can you tell us more about your grandmother?

Norah’s grandmother, Bonnie Hobbs Barron

NM: My Granny, Bonnie Hobbs Barron, was born near Big Stone Gap in Wise County, Virginia in 1916. She grew up in a one-room log cabin without plumbing or electricity. As a child, she owned only one dress and one pair of shoes, and occasionally had to offer labor in exchange for food. Her father passed away when she was 6, and she often had to take care of her two younger siblings. She was orphaned by the age of 15, and unable to finish high school until the age of 21.

After high school, she worked as a housekeeper and caregiver for a family in Norton, until she married my grandfather in 1941. My grandfather benefitted from his participation in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), as well as through military service, and had a job opportunity in Washington, D.C. They relocated and eventually settled in Mount Rainier, Maryland, where they raised five children. My Granny lived to be 89 years old and passed away in 2006. However, she never forgot where she came from in Appalachia.

SC: It sounds like your grandmother had a great understanding of the poverty that people often face in Appalachia from her time there – how did that shape her life?

NM: My Granny had a personal understanding of poverty, and as a result she never took anything for granted. Despite all the hardships she faced, she counted her blessings every day. I never knew my Granny to show bitterness over her circumstances, and she often expressed gratitude to have another day of life ahead of her.

I think her impoverished childhood inspired her to provide as many opportunities as she could for her own children. She worked very hard to take care of her family, and was proud of everything that her children and grandchildren accomplished. My Granny also had a strong faith, and believed in helping others. She was always willing to give to people in need, perhaps in part because she knew what it was like to live without.

SC: What about sponsoring a child was important for your grandmother — and now for you?

NM: Unfortunately, I was never able to ask my Granny why sponsoring a child was important for her. However, since she personally knew the challenges of growing up impoverished in Appalachia, I have to imagine she wanted to provide opportunities for children in similar circumstances. She knew how difficult her own childhood was, and she likely wanted to help create a bright future for other children in need.

I would encourage future sponsors to consider everything they have in their own life. Who and what helped get you to where you are today?

As for me, I have been reflecting on my own philanthropic priorities as we begin 2021. So many people struggle for basic necessities — food, clothing, shelter, access to education, employment, and healthcare. While this is true across the United States and internationally, my family has a personal connection to the poverty that people face in Appalachia. I hope to give back to impoverished children in Appalachia, so they can lead healthy and fulfilling lives without the burden of struggling to meet basic needs.

SC: As a sponsor, what would you say to someone who was considering sponsoring a child?

NM: I would encourage a future sponsor to consider everything you have in your own life. Who and what helped get you to where you are today? Not everyone is as fortunate to be granted basic resources to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. You have an opportunity to give back, and to help make a difference in the lives of others.

Philanthropy translates roughly to “love of humankind,” and it can be expressed through sharing time, talent, and treasure with others. If you have the financial resources to sponsor a child, you will be supporting a child’s basic needs while expressing your love for humankind. The children of this world need our love, care, and commitment, perhaps now more than ever.

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HOW DO I SPONSOR A CHILD?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | January 11, 2021En Español

Our sponsors and donors are often the only reason children in our program receive holiday gifts and for that, we are incredibly grateful — especially after an exceptionally difficult year for kids around the world.

After receiving photos and stories from our volunteer coordinators about how much the Christmas gifts you provided meant to children living in poverty, we wanted to share with you some of their heartfelt thanks for the gratitude you show through your sponsorships.

After receiving photos and stories from our volunteer coordinators about how much the Christmas gifts you provided meant to children living in poverty, we wanted to share with you some of their heartfelt thanks for the gratitude you show through your sponsorships.

Thank you from New Mexico

“Even though shopping for the children in the Children Incorporated program became difficult due to the pandemic and lockdown on the Navajo Nation, we were able to have the kids order from our virtual book fair for the holidays. We also placed an order from Teach the Children Educational Supply Co. for educational board games for them to take home. We also ordered containers filled with school supplies they can use starting in January. Teach the Children is so awesome and helpful that they mark each container with the students’ names, and we don’t have to do much except distribute! The kids also received toys and a treat bag. All of these gifts will allow the children to spend safe quality time at home. We will also have our children on the program to shop at our small local Farmer’s Market for the holidays for food items.”

We are very grateful to our sponsors.

Phyllis and Karen
Dzilth Community School
New Mexico

Happy Holidays from Kentucky

Our sponsored children are so thankful to have received Christmas gifts in December.

“Thank you for all the support you give our children. You are our backbone. We couldn’t survive without Children Incorporated. Merry Christmas to all Children Incorporated staff and sponsors!”

Sandy
Beaver Creek Elementary School
Knott County, Kentucky

Wishing a Merry Christmas in Lebanon

“Dear Friends,

Greetings from Lebanon! We will never forget 2020, the year that has been and still is full of challenges in Lebanon and the world.

We are very thankful for all Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf (FAID) friends and supporters who were so generous and did not hesitate to give FAID a helping hand in this difficult time. Through your generosity, FAID was able to support our students’ families with food parcels, hygiene items, voucher gifts to buy from the market and transportation allowance for the most-needy students. The most important support was the love and care towards FAID and its mission.

Despite the restrictions due to COVID-19, we have been able to offer a full timetable and lots of extracurricular activities, keeping our pupils learning, socializing and safe. We all had a chance to evaluate just what FAID means to each of us.

We are forever indebted to our wonderful staff that developed skills overnight to take on a high-quality home learning experience.”

Gladys
The Father Andweg Institute for the Deaf
Beirut, Lebanon

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How do I sponsor a child?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | December 27, 2020En Español

As a very difficult year comes to an end, we couldn’t be more grateful to our amazing sponsors and donors who ensure that children in our program continued to be supported through school closures as their families struggled to make ends meet during a global pandemic. It is not a simple task to put into words what your support does for children in our program, so we want to share with you success stories sent to us by our volunteer coordinators as our way of saying “Thank You” for everything you do for children in need.

As a very difficult year comes to an end, we couldn’t be more grateful to our amazing sponsors and donors who ensure that children in our program continued to be supported through school closures as their families struggled to make ends meet during a global pandemic.

A Letter from Marlena

Another year has come and gone once again, and this year has been a little bittersweet due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it did not stop us from providing our kids with all their everyday needs. As always to say that Children’s Incorporated is a wonderful program is an understatement! There are many children who rely on the sponsorship program for things like food, clothing, shoes, school supplies and hygiene products.

This year, with all the generous donations from sponsors, we were able to allow several of our families to shop for food and everyday supplies like toilet paper, laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. We were also able to provide a family with a new washer and dryer from the Children Incorporated Hope In Action Fund as well as regular sponsorship funding. The grandmother was more than thankful and very appreciative. She and the grandfather are raising five of their grandkids which they have adopted. If not for Children Incorporated, this grandma would still be washing all their clothing out on her hands and hanging them dry.

The Hope In Action funding that we so graciously received has been so wonderful and so helpful to so many of our kids and their families. Not only were we able to purchase the washer and dryer, but we were also able to provide a great aunt with some new bedding for two of her great-nephews who she recently received guardianship of.

Thanks to our donors, children around the world have received food and hygiene items during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Family Resource Center has also been able to use some of the funds to help buy supplies for “Grandparents as Parents” meetings. These meetings are not only for the grandparents, but also for other family members that are raising children such as their nieces, nephews, and even younger siblings. During these classes, we offer several activities, such as information on eating healthy, gardening and supplies, and how to preserve food. We have also had guest speakers that have come in and taught some of the guardians how to access Infinite Campus which provides them with their child’s grades and tells them if the child is missing any assignments as well as the scores that they receive. So, thank you so much Children Incorporated for all that you do. Your organization is truly a blessing to so many!

Michelle’s story

What a crazy year 2020 has been for all of us! I would have never predicted that when we all celebrated at New Year’s that we would be facing some of the things we have faced. I have been very proud of the actions taken by so many to protect our students and staff and to help out our struggling families. Our district has been wonderful! The kids, even though doing their schoolwork at home, have continued to receive daily meals thanks to our school lunchroom staff and to our wonderful bus drivers. Teachers and other school personnel have gone on meal runs to help check on students at home and to support them through this challenging time. We as a staff have also made calls daily to check on students and make sure their needs were being met. It has been awesome to watch everyone working together.

Thanks so much again sponsors and Children Incorporated staff. Please have a safe and healthy New Year and know how much your efforts are needed and appreciated.

The support we have received also as part of the Children Incorporated program has once again played a critical role in the lives of our students and families. This year, we have sponsored seven children and helped make their lives a little brighter. Most of the funding we have received has helped with basic necessities such as clothing, personal hygiene needs and school supplies. Our students were also able to continue to be a part of our yearly book fair thanks to their sponsors.

I hope that through the trying times we have all found that spirit within that helps us to keep on going and to appreciate the things and people around us in a whole new way. We are so thankful to continue to be a part of this wonderful program and hope that this collaboration can go on for many years to come.

Thanks so much again sponsors and Children Incorporated staff. Please have a safe and healthy New Year and know how much your efforts are needed and appreciated.

Monica’s Thank You

There is a special story I want to share with you about a second-grade boy in the Children Incorporated program. This young boy’s life is nothing like what we consider normal. One day he spent a little extra time with me in my office. About a week before this I had given him some outfits that the sponsor had given extra money for him to have.

He and I were chatting, and I asked if he could sit down and write his sponsor a thank you letter for the items he received. His face lit up like a Christmas tree just beaming about his brand new clothes. Of course, that made my heart melt. We spent a little too much time talking so our time was cut short before he could start the card. He went back to class and a few hours later he came back in; his eyes were glowing and he had a big smile on his face. He reached from behind his back as if he was getting ready to give me a present. And boy did he ever! He had made a thank you note for his Children Incorporated sponsor during his free time that day. The sponsor made him feel so special that he wanted to do this of his own free will. That may not sound like much, but it meant the world to me because I knew those clothes had meant the world to him.

These children all light up when they get the nice, new things made possible by their sponsors. Thank you very much for giving the world to these children. You, our sponsors, are considered heroes. I am honored to be a part of this program.

Mandy sends her gratitude

Thousands of children around the world have benefited from sponsorship in 2020 because of our amazing sponsors.

I am so pleased to tell you that we have 97 students with sponsors on the Children Incorporated program. Thank you! Because of your financial support we have been able to purchase clothes in the fall and spring, backpacks, supplies for the entire school year, toiletries, books for home, as well as, “special gifts” for birthdays and different holidays throughout the year. It is so exciting and rewarding to see the students when they are called to the office to receive their items.

It is also exciting to see the students with their smiling faces as they come into the school with their new outfits on, and they make sure to come by to show us. We were also able to supply families with a nice gift basket of country ham, biscuit mix, jams/jellies and candies for the students and their families to enjoy over the winter break. The families came by the office to pick up the baskets and they expressed their sincere gratitude. We also purchased much-needed hygiene and toiletry items such as shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

We are fortunate to have caring sponsors who correspond with the students in a positive and meaningful way. Some of the sponsors write letters, send coloring sheets/stickers, small gifts in cards and mailed in packages. The kids get very excited when they receive mail from their sponsors!

We will have to wait and see how things progress with the COVID-19 crisis. We are remotely monitoring the needs of the students at this time. We thank you for continuing your support during this difficult time for everyone.

Thank you to our Children Incorporated sponsors for taking care of our students’ needs!

Tracy’s story

In early January, I was informed that a family in the community lost their home and all of its contents to a house fire. Thankfully, everyone managed to make it out safely. I made a call to Renée Kube, Children Incorporated’s Director of U.S. Programs, to ask if there was anything that they could do to help the family. She quickly responded and said that she would send us funds from the Hope In Action Fund to help the family with food, clothing and household necessities.

We are fortunate to have caring sponsors who correspond with the students in a positive and meaningful way.

When I told the family this, they couldn’t believe the generosity of this program. I met them at Walmart to purchase some items that they needed right away. They asked if we could spend the rest of the money later when they had their new home and ready to move in, and Renée confirmed that that would be just fine.

A few weeks after moving into their new home, I was able to meet the parents, Paul and Karen, at Walmart to purchase a mattress, bedding items, towels, clothing, shoes, food and household items. At the checkout, Karen had tears in her eyes; she couldn’t believe that this program cared so much for her children and her family. This was certainly a success story with a happy ending.

Sharon’s shares her thoughts

The subsidies from Children Incorporated has made positive impacts on so many of our students. They come to school with new clothes and shoes and have pretty backpacks full of supplies like all the other students. It is amazing what a little extra money can do for a child’s self-esteem.

There are so many wonderful stories about Children Incorporated sponsored kids that it is difficult to pick one out to spotlight. Brian* lives with his mom and dad and his new little brother. Dad works and mom stays home with the baby and takes care of Brian when he comes home from school. They live in subsidized housing, but I was still surprised at the cost of their rent. Children Incorporated subsidy has allowed me to help this family with basic needs for Brian and the family. I have also helped with food on many occasions. This family is very community-oriented and very involved in his education. They come to all school activities, and Brian even joined a basketball league.

Another family had one sponsored child and another unsponsored. These girls are in a single mother household that also lives in subsidized housing. With the extra money, I was able to purchase the unsponsored child items as I did for the sponsored child. Mom is now working and has purchased a car. Another family has been taken off the Children Incorporated program because we felt the family was no longer in need of the services. It is a pleasure watching these families grow and become more self-sufficent and need less and less of my help.

*Name changed to protect the child.

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How can I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child with Children Incorporated in one of three ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our donation portal, create an account, and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD