At Julia deBurgos School, HFH reading buddies have started to read with K-3 children. New volunteer Faith Watson of Chestnut Hill says of her first day, “It was great. I loved my little buddies. The kids were so excited to be in the library allowed to check out books.” The literacy goals are high and HFH is a community partner bringing in 28 weekly volunteers and 5 parent volunteers who work five morning a week.
The deBurgos School library has opened for business with HFH volunteers scanning barcodes for kids to check out books from the collection of 12,000 titles. Reading specialist Moira Murphy has trained the reading buddies and says, “We are determined to get our children reading on grade level, and we are grateful for community partners who come in to help.”
The school/community garden was abundant all summer with HFH volunteer Tom Grabe building, planting, watering, harvesting with teachers, neighbors, and kids.
At Potter Thomas School, the new community garden was watered by HFH volunteers and neighbor Luis Rodriquez. Luis said, “Parents send their children to get tomatoes and peppers for dinner. There is no vandalism. We are learning. This garden is for everyone.”
A new neighborhood coalition, including HFH produced a Back To School Rally on the playground of Potter Thomas School with loaded backpacks give away, cook out and games. Adults talked to neighbors they had never seen, grateful for this community event just days after a shooting across the street from school.
