Family
Services Ministry presents our very first:
“Homework
Diner”
Wednesday,
April 29, 2015
About a year ago I
was watching NBC Nightly News, Making a Difference segment, and I saw a story
about a Homework Diner. Here's the gist of that story:
Beginning as a 6
week pilot program in the spring of 2012, Homework Diner set out to involve
parents in the school/after school community. The purpose of the Homework Diner
was to engage parents in their child’s academic development, invite communication
between home and school, and give parents support for homework help and ideas
they can use at home. Average
attendance fluctuated between 35-55 participants during the pilot. Due to
overwhelming support from the parents’ desire to continue Homework Diner, now
attendance often exceeds 100 participants (students, siblings of students,
parents, teachers, volunteers, etc.).
Well, needless to
say, this Homework Diner thing stayed on my heart. I began to pray about it and
asked our team to pray. God gave us clearance to move forward. After all, if He made it possible in Texas,
he can do the same thing in Greensboro, GA.
What started as a
tugging at the heart became a reality on April 29th! What an awesome night. The Homework Diner was
everything we imagined it would be and more. There were students, parents,
mentors, tutors, homework helpers, staff, board members and volunteers. Parents
and tutors had the opportunity to get to know each other and talk about ways we
all can help our children learn.
There was a lot
happening in the room; excitement, relationship building, servant hood and not
to mention great food. But the thing we prayed for the most, that the parents
would interact with the tutors and mentors in order to help the kids, was
taking place and we were overjoyed. Of
course, there were a few things that we believe we can do to make the Home work
Diner a better experience each time, but it was a great start. On a rainy
Wednesday night, the Homework Diner was a very good place to be.
There were approximately
50 people in attendance; remember in Texas they started off with approximately
50 people and ended up with an average of 100 people. We feel as long as the
children are learning and the relationships are growing, the numbers will grow,
but it is God who adds the numbers. We give Him all the glory for such a
wonderful evening. We believe that in Him, the best is yet to come. So look
out, another Homework Diner will be coming your way soon!
