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Pineridge Neighborhood Project volunteers, in cooperation with Bread of the Mighty Food Bank, served free nutritious meals to Pineridge children during the summer of 2009, in an apartment donated by a Pineridge owner. In July this service was ended because there was not enough participation from Pineridge children to continue.
In July 2009, we worked with Eileen Roy so that six of the middle school students we have worked with in Pineridge received full scholarships for a Sheriff's Youth Ranch camp in Inglis, with funds Eileen Roy raised for 70 local students to attend the camp.
In the fall, UUFG collected funds for school supplies for Pineridge children, which we gave to the public schools to distribute as needed.
UUFG member and UF professor Art Edison led a Pineridge 4-H Science Club each Friday afternoon of the school year, along with his graduate student volunteers and UUFG volunteers. Activities helped to generate interest in science. Each meeting also included socialization activities led by UF graduate students in Education, as well as snacks, outdoor play, and conversation. For one meeting, Art and his graduate students hosted the Club in his labs on campus. In a follow-up reflection session led by our two College of Education graduate student volunteers, the children each answered questions about what they had seen and learned on the field trip to campus, and talked enthusiastically about how they could go about setting and meeting college goals for themselves.
Several opportunities were used to survey more Pineridge residents throughout the year. On Nov. 11, we invited congregation members to help and we used the Experiential Guide created by Rev. LoraKim Joyner for preparation and reflection.
For the winter holidays, Pineridge 4-H members were invited to go to A Christmas Carol at the Hippodrome with volunteers. Art Edison had t-shirts with a Science Club theme made for them for a special holiday meeting where they also received activity books and treats.
On March 19, 2010, we had Dr. Michelle Dunlap (UF grad and currently on the faculty at Connecticut College) as a guest speaker for supper and discussion open to all those who work with Pineridge children. Her tips have helped us to work better with the children and families in Pineridge.
We had a successful Spring Break Camp April 6-8 for the Pineridge 4-H children. The emphasis was science and nature, and the children planted a garden, cooked and ate together, studied nature, had reading and storytelling sessions, did crafts, and just relaxed during their public school break.
Seven of the Pineridge children attended NatUUre Camp June 14-18 on full scholarships provided by Social Justice Council. In addition, one child who has moved out to a better neighborhood is back at Camp for his third year, on scholarship, and his brother is a junior counselor. These kids talk all year about our UU Camps!
We arranged for the Mobile Outreach Clinic to visit Pineridge two mornings a month to provide health screenings and care and also to sign residents up for food stamps and other social services. This bus is provided by UF College of Medicine and is funded in part by Alachua County Health Department and CHOICES funds.
Alice Primack, Co-Chair with Rosaleen Salvo |
