Program Description

This program is designed to address education, in particular, literacy. We provide backpacks filled with all the school supplies needed for kids in grades K-12 to start off the new school year. We also offer a hot meal, fun carnival and an opportunity for kids and their family members to meet and talk with community leaders and role models that are in the field of education or strong advocates for education. We are focusing our attention not only in the Pine Street community, but also throughout Faulkner County.  Aside from the backpack program, PSCDC also offers a food bank service.

History

In 2008 the Back Pack Program was expanded in order to reach more families not only in the Pine Street community but also in the city of Conway and Faulkner County. Over the past sixteen years our resources have grown from raising over $5,000 in cash and in-kind donations in one school year to raising over $20,000 in cash and in-kind donations in another school year. Those resources took the program from serving 300 kids in 2008 to serving 1,000 kids every year starting in 2012. Over that span of time and with the resources we have had the Backpack Program has served more than 14,000 kids.

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Program Years
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Raised since established
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Children Served Yearly
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Children Served Since 2008

Mission

The goal of this organization is to provide school supplies for children in grades K-12. Our mission is to support all families within the Pine Street community and surrounding areas of the City of Conway and Faulkner County. While we know we cannot solve all the concerns of our community, we can most certainly make a difference.

Our Impact

Since 2008 the PSCDC has provided backpacks filled with school supplies to over 14,000 kids. In addition, because of the overwhelming amount of support this program has received from the community over the past eight years, school supplies and backpacks have been disseminated to school counselors in order to reach out to more kids in need. We have provided school supplies to elementary schools that have the greatest need according to the percentage of kids who receive free and/or reduced meals. The schools that have been recipients of what our program has to offer are Theodore Jones Elementary, Florence Mattison Elementary, and Ida Burns Elementary. We have also in the past assisted Make a Child Smile (a nonprofit organization in our community that addresses similar needs) and H.O.P.E. preschool (a free of charge preschool for low income families). In addition to providing kids with school supplies, our goal is to relieve some of the economic burden that parents and guardians face when preparing their children for the new school year. A poll was taken a few years ago by the National Retail Federation that revealed the average American family spent over $600 on back-to-school shopping. That includes, clothing, shoes, school supplies, and basic electronic needs. Out of that total school supplies alone averaged nearly $100 per family.

Commitee

Tim Ester

Leona Walton

Patrick Block

Lia Tate

Gena Ester

Terrance Fuller

Arthur Ingram

Donna Wilchie