Fort Bend County, Texas
"Being a facilitator has taught me to keep my eyes open to the needs in our community. We can always do something. When we start a project it usually starts out small, and then it grows into something that I never expected. These kids amaze me!"
Bobbi Wingard
Facilitator
Learning Adventures in Fort Bend (LAF) is a homeschool cooperative. Bobbi Wingard, started the LAF Kids Care Club in May of 2003 to share her passion of community service with the homeschoolers in her area. She believes there is nothing like the feeling of seeing someone smile because of your efforts.
The club ranges in age from 4 to 16. They have taken on a variety of service projects, helping many groups in their communities. Projects draw from 15 to 40 members. One of the first projects was collecting and decorating hats for kids with cancer. Amy Kulcak, a parent volunteer believes that the project gave them an idea of what kids with cancer have to deal with. She says, "The idea is not to just teach the children to volunteer, but to teach them the reason why they should volunteer." Some kids in the club were not aware that children got cancer. The project offered the club a chance to show their compassion. They collected over 300 hats and raised more than $500 dollars to purchase hats and decorating supplies. They also received hats from the Houston Astros, (sports hats are big with kids in oncology units) and received a $200 grant from a local Kohl's store. In addition to donating the hats they made get-well cards.
A 5K walk followed this project for Cystic Fibrosis. This time children in the club were well aware that Cystic Fibrosis strikes children. Matthew, a fellow club member suffers from the disease, causing him to endure daily breathing treatments and lots of medications. The club members want to do all they can to help find a cure for the disease. The first year they raised $913 by walking. Last year they held a car wash raising $301.05 and walked raising over $700. They intend to hold a car wash this year and walk again. Trevor, a club member, especially liked the Walk for Cystic Fibrosis. He notes the benefit of participating in a walk; "I'm helping with research for a cure while spending time with my friends."
A cool project the club created for children waiting in a hospital emergency room is "Boredom Buster." Students realize that you don't "plan" to go the emergency room and that you can be stuck there for hours. They thought it would be nice to provide snacks and activities for the kids, so they created a Boredom Buster activity kit. It contains coloring books, reading books, crayons, puzzles, stuffed animals, card games, a juice box and crackers.
The club participated in Join Hands Day, a national day of service where youth and adults team up to help their communities. Felicity, a nine-year-old club member, thought kids needed an extra incentive to participate in the summer reading program at the local library. Joined by grandparents and parents, the club sewed book bags and stamped them with their handprints. The library distributed them to everyone who read at least 60 books.
Two of the club's favorite projects are reaching out to the homeless and children in foster care. They have started an annual project called "Happy Sacks for the Homeless." The kids assembled 200 sacks, which they, joined by their families, distributed to the homeless over the holidays. To support children in foster care, the LAF KCC during National Foster Care Month, partnered with local businesses to provide items for children entering the Fort Bend Foster Care system. The club was able to deliver 50 duffel bags to a center providing care and supplies for children in foster care and other children in need. Madeline, a member of the club said, "I like the Foster Care project because I am helping kids my own age."
This year, for the local nursing home, the club held its 3rd annual Valentines party. They handed out fleece blankets they made, along with valentine cards and sweets. They played old love songs, which the residents thoroughly enjoyed. Other projects include:
The club plans to repeat most of the above projects with a plan for adding the Heifer International's Read to Feed program, a "working trip" to the Houston Food Bank, a toy drive and Christmas party for a new Foster Care Community, and a new project for the moms living in the women's shelter.
Bobbi says, "I think it is so important to teach children to look at the world around them. There is always someone that needs help. If we keep our eyes open to the needs of others, we can make a difference."
In two and a half years, the club has made a difference for the most vulnerable citizens in their community: the ill, the homeless, the hungry, the elderly and children in foster care. We commend the Learning Adventures of Fort Bend Kids Care Club for keeping their eyes and hearts open to the needs of others in their community and the enthusiasm and commitment they bring to their annual projects.
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