Aug. 8, 2007 - Xavier's Kids
Who you ask, are Xavier's Kids? I don't know their names, yet. But they are a group of young people who some might consider underprivileged, living in government housing, parent(s) scraping to make ends meet. I had a meeting with the Director of the Oxford Housing Authority yesterday. Our lunch program is coming to an end and I wanted to discuss some other ways to help out. I point blank told him that I didn't know what to call the kids because I didn't want to be condescending. I'm no better than they, just in a different place in life. We are trying to build a bridge to these kids, not widen the gulf. At any rate, Xavier said that folks around the Housing Authority just call them "His Kids". So from now on that's what they'll be ... Xavier's Kids.
We talked about many ideas from the upcoming fall and spring, but for right now we are going to use the resources we have. Those resources? Pilots, airplanes and aerospace education. You see, most of these kids don't realize they can dream dreams, reach for the sky or beyond. They know there's something beyond the walls of the apartment complex, they just don't know how to get there. So for the next month or so, we're going to show them. Civil Air Patrol has some of the most excellent aerospace education materials around and they are grade appropriate so they speak to where the child is in their learning. My Squadron is blessed to have members of the EAA (with their own planes) that have agreed to fly these kids. The Housing Authority has transportation so we can take them to Carolina Sky Sports to watch the jumpers; we can take them to the next military air show (Ft. Bragg/Seymour Johnson) we can build and launch rockets with these kids. Will we come out with a bunch of budding astronauts? Who knows! What I do know is that we will be planting seeds that may take root in a number of different ways. We are showing kids that they can do these things if they stay in school, learn to read and get good grades. "If you teach a man to fish..."
I get to meet the kids next Tuesday on the final day of the reading class. I can't wait!!!
I'll keep ya'll posted...
Comments
Aug. 8, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 4sweetums
Sounds like a great program. I am sure you are a blessing to the children. My dh and I were stationed at Ft. Bragg a few years ago.
Blessings,
4sweetums
Aug. 8, 2007 - wow!
Posted by creech7s
What a great way to get the kids to see more, dream more, know they are special!! Will you keep doing some meals during the school year or just summertime? I need to discuss with you if you're gonna do that again next summer we have some farmers down this way with extra crops in the summer - any way to use them for your program?
-F
Aug. 8, 2007 - Next Year
Posted by OctoberMom
I know we will be doing something next year in the way of feeding for the reading program. Haven't gotten that far in the long range plans. They are also looking at cooking and sewing classes for the moms. We discussed some of that briefly at my meeting yesterday. I'll keep you posted on how things develop for next year. I know we'll be doing the aerospace deal until the first/middle of October, then possibly working with the kids to make some gifts for the holidays, but not sure on that last part yet.
Stay tuned!