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Article published Dec 12, 2003
DSS
cuts off Arcadia after-school program
DEBRA G.
LESTER
Staff Writer
A local after-school literacy program that
serves predominantly Hispanic elementary and middle school students will lose
most of its funding on Dec. 31.The Rev. Jack Washington, associate director of
the S.C. United Methodist Conference Council on Ministries in Columbia, said he
was notified by letter Thursday that a contract with the Department of Social
Services that provided partial funding for the Shalom Literacy Program would be
terminated.Washington said the 4-year-old after-school program at Arcadia United
Methodist Church has the support of the United Methodist Conference, as do the
four other Shalom Literacy Programs across the state."We're looking for
supporting and financial resources everywhere possible to keep this program
going," Washington said. "We plan to keep it going because it is so needed in
the area. The contribution from us just won't be as much."Robin Landers,
director of the overall Shalom Literacy Program, said the one in Arcadia is
targeted to remain open. "It's unique because it'smulticultural. It's primarily
Hispanic" but also has black students and white students."I'm going to work as
hard as I can to support the program, but local folks are going to have to step
up to the plate," Landers said from her Columbia office.Marques Hardy, director
in Arcadia, said the loss of funds will mean the end of paychecks for him and Jo
Anne Smith, and that the program will have to be run by volunteers. Both he and
Smith said they will volunteer to help the 50 children who are registered in the
program, most of whom qualify for free or reduced lunches.A typical afternoon
finds the children arriving on school buses about 2:40 p.m. They get a snack and
do their homework. Weather permitting, they go outside to play football or
kickball before eating a nutritious supper at 5 p.m. During inclement weather,
the students play bingo or use computers until suppertime."More than likely
that's the last meal they'll have for that day," Hardy said.The program gets a
lot of volunteer support from Central United Methodist and Holy Communion
Lutheran churches, Catholic Charities, Wofford College students, youth
ministries from Our Risen Savior Catholic Church, work-study students from
Spartanburg Methodist College and the Spanish Club from Dorman High School.Some
of the people come back to volunteer individually on days when their group is
not there, Hardy said, "But around Christmas, the volunteers disappear."He said
exams, going home for the holidays and the busy time of year take volunteers
away, but they come back in January. And the children aren't forgotten. Each has
been "adopted" by someone from Central United Methodist and will receive
Christmas gifts. St. Matthews Episcopal Church will donate playground equipment
to the program.Hardy, 22, began working for the program in September 2002. He
was impressed that a small predominantly white and aged church would open its
doors to the Hispanic community.He said he did not have annual budget figures,
but said it costs about $400 every two weeks for food.Smith is retired from DSS.
She said she understands the agency's position, but doesn't want to abandon the
children she's seen thrive since she began as a volunteer three years ago. She
went on the payroll in January and will continue volunteering after her last
paycheck."I have to come and help out with the children," she said. "We provide
academic care, but we teach leadership skills, recreational skills and manners.
We give them a well-rounded foundation for spirit, soul and body."Smith said the
program could use donations of school supplies and paper goods to save on
funds."We've seen a tremendous change in these children. They're growing and
maturing and their homework is improving. It's fulfilling to me," Smith said.
"Children just want to be accepted and loved."For more information on the
after-school program, call Hardy or Smith at 576-3042.Debra G. Lester can be
reached at 562-7264, or debra.lester@shj.com.