In the summer of 1997, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Outreach Team determined that there should be a “hands-on” outreach program in our neighborhood. In the spring of 1998, St. Paul’s members made a connection with the Northern Nevada Food Bank and their “Kids’ Café” project, a national feeding program for children. The same year, The Northern Nevada Food Bank did a study that revealed our local children often go without sufficient, nutritious food and proper supervision after school. This was our window of opportunity: a way to support the under-served children of this low income, multi-ethnic area. We decided to meet these needs through an After School Program to give adult supervision after school hours; help with homework; provide a safe and caring environment; serve a nutritious meal; and stimulate social, emotional and intellectual growth through structured activities. The program started on January 9, 1999, with two children in attendance. In 2001, 118 children were registered with a daily attendance average of 33.

To provide consistency, structure, and organization we employ four part time employees. The activities coordinator is in charge of all after school activities, discipline, supervising volunteer staff, ordering and restocking supplies, maintaining attendance records, etc. A part-time paid cook manages the delivery of food and prepares the meals. The executive director recruits, trains and schedules volunteers, acquires funding, communicates with school officials and parents, schedules special activities from community resources, organizes special events or fund raisers, establishes policy and promotes the program in the community. The executive director is also on site every day the program is in session, checks frequently with the coordinator and “subs” on the days when a scheduled volunteer or employee is absent. The assistant coordinator supervises assigned activities, supports volunteers, tutors in the homework room, monitors outside sports and performs other duties as required during after school hours.

Tutoring has been an important part of our program since the beginning. A volunteer or staff person assists children with homework in a separate study hall that includes desks, dry-erase board, calculators and other school supplies. We plan to add an academic improvement incentive program for the Fall of 2002, to increase the number of students doing homework and to help children improve their grades. Children will build credits for studying and earn rewards with credit accumulation.

April 20, 2002, Kids’ Klub After School hosted its second annual Taco Fiesta fund raiser. To show their appreciation for our program, parents of our Kids’ Klub children cooked, served and sold delicious, authentic Hispanic cuisine and over 150 people attended. It was a great “coming together” of parishioners, volunteers, employees, families of Kids’ Klub After School and friends from the community. Over 36 organizations and individuals donated items for a raffle. We generated $6,800, up almost 500% from the previous year.

Fall 2001, we added professionally taught classes through VSA Arts of Nevada, a nonprofit program dedicated to bringing the Arts to disadvantaged adults and children. Last year VSA Arts offered visual arts, drama and dance. Winter 2003 Kids’ Klub staff plans to add a martial arts class.

Due to our increasing numbers of children attending the program, volunteer staffing remains a priority. Three volunteers are needed each day the after school program is in session. This year we have enjoyed the support of 26 volunteers, not including our newly established Advisory Board of ten members. The board is currently involved with strategic planning and incorporation proceedings to establish Kids’ Klub as a separate 501c3 nonprofit organization.

In the Fall of 2003, the Klub expanded to include BEFORE-SCHOOL hours of 7:30 am to 9 am for those kids whose parents need to leave their children before School begins in order to get to work on time.

4/30/03 -j