As of Spring 2022, we have worked over 24,000 hours with nearly 1,250 Darke County students who were struggling academically. Nearly all were in danger of “falling through the cracks.” Now, 80 to 90 percent of the students who took advantage of the help we offered, experienced academic success, some for the first time.
Instead of becoming part of our community support system, they have received the tools that can help them become contributing members of the community. Many of the Elementary students we’ve worked with are now Middle School students. We often hear from them – our graduates – when we’re on campus… confident in their academic success. Earlier this year, our Greenville Coordinator, Jenette Stark, saw a former student recently and asked him how he was doing, and if she will see him again in her program. The student shook his head. His dad, who was picking him up at the time, said, “No need to. He’s been on the Honor Roll ever since you worked with him.” Just recently she saw another former student and asked the same question. He grinned and asked if she could improve on his A’s.
We are making a difference!
We have two After School Programs in Greenville (Elementary and Middle), one in Arcanum-Butler Middle, and one in Ansonia Elementary. We will be starting our fifth After School Program this fall. We hope to expand our current programs to reach more students. And we are resuming our Edison State Small Group Summer tutoring to augment our Summer Library and Virtual Programs.
This is an aggressive agenda. We need your help to do it.
Before the pandemic, community support for our kids was strong. In March 2020, the community was hit hard, as were our kids. Two years later, we are still looking for some form of normalcy. In order to continue reaching students who are struggling academically, we need help!
Will you consider helping us this year? We would appreciate it!! If so, please send your gift to Empowering Darke County Youth, P.O. Box 1113, Greenville, Ohio 45331. Or let us know at empoweringyouth101@gmail.com and we can make arrangements to meet.
Also, we are looking for sponsors for our Education and Empowering News website, www.countynewsonline.org. If you are interested, please let us know. The site averages 28-30,000 visitors a month.
For more information about Empowering Darke County Youth, check out our website at www.empowerdarkecounty.com. To donate, or to offer your help, contact any staff or Board member at empoweringyouth101@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1113, Greenville, Ohio 45331.
EDCY File Photo: Summer Small Group tutoring at Edison State Community College, prior to campuses being closed in 2020.