Local churches provide dinner at Poe Middle School every afternoon
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| Poe students enjoy dinner in the cafeteria. |
Lower-income students at Poe Middle School in Annandale no
longer go home hungry, thanks to volunteers from area churches who serve them
an early dinner during the Raven’s Nest after-school program.
longer go home hungry, thanks to volunteers from area churches who serve them
an early dinner during the Raven’s Nest after-school program.
“It’s a very needy population, and we do what we can to make
their lives easier,” says Amanda Sperling, Poe’s after-school coordinator.
About 85 percent of the students are eligible for subsidized meals, the school population is extremely
diverse, and many students have parents who work long hours.
their lives easier,” says Amanda Sperling, Poe’s after-school coordinator.
About 85 percent of the students are eligible for subsidized meals, the school population is extremely
diverse, and many students have parents who work long hours.
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| Volunteers from AUM Sheila Kyer (left) and Jaie Brown serve dinners to Poe students. |
The free dinners are served to about 450 students on
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, the days with the biggest after-school crowds,
and about 150 on Wednesdays and 50 on Fridays. On Fridays, the students are
given a bag of nonperishable food to take home for the weekend and share with
their families.
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, the days with the biggest after-school crowds,
and about 150 on Wednesdays and 50 on Fridays. On Fridays, the students are
given a bag of nonperishable food to take home for the weekend and share with
their families.
The program started last year with Annandale United Methodist Church. “We’ve had a continuing relationship with Poe on several
different levels,” says Rev. Clarence Brown Jr., AUM’s senior pastor. “When we
visited with them and asked how we could help with their needs, they said a significant
portion of students are on free or reduced-price lunches, so hunger is a big
issue for them.”
different levels,” says Rev. Clarence Brown Jr., AUM’s senior pastor. “When we
visited with them and asked how we could help with their needs, they said a significant
portion of students are on free or reduced-price lunches, so hunger is a big
issue for them.”
About 30 AUM church members agreed to provide dinner at Poe
every Wednesday. They formed four teams, with each team taking on the project
every four weeks. The church members are responsible for planning the meals,
buying food, preparing the dishes at home, and serving them to the students
in the Poe cafeteria.
every Wednesday. They formed four teams, with each team taking on the project
every four weeks. The church members are responsible for planning the meals,
buying food, preparing the dishes at home, and serving them to the students
in the Poe cafeteria.
“We try to focus on making things that are nutritionally
healthy and that kids would eat,” Brown says. Dinners usually include something
like lasagna or sloppy joes with a salad or vegetable. “Knowing that the kids
get fed every night, that’s a tremendous blessing to us,” he says.
healthy and that kids would eat,” Brown says. Dinners usually include something
like lasagna or sloppy joes with a salad or vegetable. “Knowing that the kids
get fed every night, that’s a tremendous blessing to us,” he says.
This year, Brown talked to the leaders of other churches and
organizations. They agreed to join the
effort, so now every day of the week is covered—by volunteers from St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Annandale, Genesis 12 Christian Fellowship Church,
which meets at the little white church on Columbia Pike; the
AV Chapter of the PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization); St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Annandale; and Boat People SOS.
organizations. They agreed to join the
effort, so now every day of the week is covered—by volunteers from St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Annandale, Genesis 12 Christian Fellowship Church,
which meets at the little white church on Columbia Pike; the
AV Chapter of the PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization); St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Annandale; and Boat People SOS.
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| Poe students in the after-school program. |
Poe’s after-school program includes homework help, followed
by fun activities, such as basketball, soccer, board games, art projects, and
various clubs for students interested in cooking, dance, current events, or
other topics. Dinner is usually served at 4 p.m.
by fun activities, such as basketball, soccer, board games, art projects, and
various clubs for students interested in cooking, dance, current events, or
other topics. Dinner is usually served at 4 p.m.
Making sure the
students have a good dinner not only contributes to their health, Sperling says,
“it helps improve their grades and behavior. They don’t have to worry about
their immediate needs, so they can concentrate on their schoolwork.”
students have a good dinner not only contributes to their health, Sperling says,
“it helps improve their grades and behavior. They don’t have to worry about
their immediate needs, so they can concentrate on their schoolwork.”
If you are interested in volunteering or contributing to Poe Middle School’s
after-school dinners, or other programs, contact Amanda Sperling, 571-306-3520.
after-school dinners, or other programs, contact Amanda Sperling, 571-306-3520.
AMAZING!!!