In War, West Virginia, Americans Helping Americans®’ partner there, Big Creek People in Action (BCPIA), operates a licensed after-school program, even during the summer months when school is not in session.
This summer, BCPIA had 31 kids participate – and while, of course they did not have any schoolwork – they also went on field trips such as to the Crab Orchard Museum in Tazewell, Virginia, where they went on a hayride, enjoyed a picnic lunch, and “graduated” from the small corn maze and tackled the large one. The children, who attend free of charge thanks to funding assistance from Americans Helping Americans®, were also offered expanded learning opportunities through BPCIA’s T.R.A.V.E.L. (Traditions, Research, Arts, Voices, Education, and Learning) program where they are introduced to a different culture every two week.
In addition, another significant reason why the children are so grateful to be able to attend BCPIA’s after-school program during the summer is that they all qualify for free lunches at school, something they don’t get when school is out, but do at BCPIA.
“The full, nutritious meal we feed them every day is an important part of the program,” Timpson told us. “Many of these kids would not receive a hot meal at home if they didn’t attend our program.”
With support from you, we are able to assist BPCIA in its mission to offer the children of McDowell County, West Virginia, the support they need to help them succeed and have a better life.
