Kids Cafe

Kids Cafe is an after-school program that offers tutoring, nutrition education, mentoring, and nutritious meals to children at risk of hunger. Initiated by America’s Second Harvest, Kids Cafe provides a safe and positive environment for children ages 15 and under to gather after school.

The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina’s Kids Cafe programs are presented in collaboration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. The Food Bank currently supports 8 Kids Cafe programs at 10 sites. Traditionally, the Food Bank’s Kids Cafe programs have been geared directly toward the children served by focusing on the aforementioned four core components. Beginning 2004-05, the Food Bank will incorporate two additional components targeted towards both the children served and their parents. This fiscal year, the Food Bank will be partnering with Be Active North Carolina and the North Carolina Justice & Community Development Center to develop and implement a physical activity and parental education component to the programs.

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Each Kids Cafe site is operated in partnership with a respected community agency in order to provide the attention and accountability needed to ensure quality programs for children. Although the details and schedules vary by site, all sites feature tutoring, nutrition education, general enrichment activities, mentoring, and nutritious meals. In the Triangle area, two Kids Cafe sites are supported by the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. The Food Bank of North Carolina’s Kids Cafe program began in 1999 with 5 Kids Cafe sites.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Kids Cafe is a wonderful outlet for people interested in helping children. Volunteers play a crucial role in helping to give each child the attention he or she deserves. A consistent commitment is preferred in order to best provide meaningful relationships for the children.

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the Volunteer Application for the Kids Cafe. Volunteers can help with:

• Tutoring: Tutoring is a core activity for Kids Cafe. Volunteers help children with their homework assignments and other learning exercises. The more volunteers there are, the closer we come to giving all children the one-on-one attention that they need.

• Meal Preparation: Volunteers can help set tables and serve meals. Volunteers are invited to eat with the children if desired.

• Educational Activities: Volunteers help design and lead enrichment activities for the children. They can also refer community resources to site directors to set up programs.

• Mentoring: Involvement in the Kids Cafe program enables one to serve as a positive role model for the children. The caring presence of volunteers offers additional support children must have in order to succeed.

2004-05 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Kids Cafe sites:

AventWest

AventWest Kids Cafe is a joint partnership between Avent Ferry United Methodist Church, Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church and A.B. Combs Leadership Magnet Elementary School. Each site serves approximately 35-50 elementary and middle school children, with many ESL students. The Avent Ferry site operates Monday & Thursday from 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. The Western Boulevard site operates Tuesday & Thursday from 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. The A. B. Combs site also operates Tuesday & Thursday from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. To volunteer at either of the sites, contact the appropriate site director:

Avent Ferry United Methodist Church

2700 Avent Ferry Road

Raleigh , North Carolina 27606

Site Director: Sara Chenlo

Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church

4900 Kaplan Drive

Raleigh , North Carolina 27606

Site Director: Matthew DiStefano

A. B. Combs Leadership Magnet Elementary School

2001 Lorimer Rd.

Raleigh, NC 27606

Site Director: Luisa Price

Beulaville Youth Center

Beulaville Youth Center Kids Cafe is located in Duplin County. Approximately 50 elementary and middle school children at this site receive tutoring and homework assistance. Also, they have access to recreation and sports, 4-H, and various enrichment activities. This site operates Monday - Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the school year. The program operates from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm during the summer months. To volunteer, contact the site director:

314 North Park Street; P.O. Box 130
Beulaville, North Carolina 28518
Site Director: Lucille Blizzard

Homework Haven

Homework Haven meets at the Garner Road Family YMCA. Children at the site are able to participate in sports and skill development, such as soccer, basketball, flag football, in addition to health enhancement and aquatics exercises. This program meets Monday – Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This site serves approximately 30 children. To volunteer, contact the site director:

2235 Old Garner Road

Raleigh , North Carolina 27610

Site Director: Jonathan Clifton

Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club

Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club Kids Cafe serves children in the Wilson community. There are approximately 190 elementary and middle school children who participate at this site's program. The uniqueness about this site is that the kids participate in this site's program on a rotational basis. For approximately 4 weeks, approximately 25 kids participate in the Kids Cafe portion of the program and then after the 4 week period a new group of 25 take parting the program. This site operates on Mondays & Tuesdays from 4:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. To volunteer, contact the site director:

316 South Tarboro Street

P.O. Box 96

Wilson , North Carolina 27894

Site Director: Matt Edwards

Straightway Church

Straightway Church Kids Cafe serves children in the Ayden community. There are approximately 50 elementary and middle school children who participate at this site's program. This site operates Monday - Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. To volunteer, contact the site director:

627 Boulevard Street

Ayden , North Carolina 28513

Site Director: Rose Daniels

Youth Vision

Youth Vision SOS Kids Cafe serves children in the New Bern community. There are approximately 50 elementary and middle school children who participate at this site's program. This site operates on Monday - Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This program has been honored by the State as the best after-school program in North Carolina. To volunteer, contact the site director:

601 Roundtree Street ; P.O. Box 13092

New Bern , North Carolina 28518

Site Director: Ed Bell

NEW SITE: Boys & Girls Club of Sandhills

Boys & Girls Club of the Sandhills is one of the newest Kids Cafe programs supported by the Food Bank. This program serves children in the Southern Pines Community. Children at this program are able to participate in programs that focus on the development of character and leadership skills, education & career skills, health & life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness & recreation. This program operates on Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 2:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and serves approximately 50 children.To volunteer, contact the site director:

764 South Bennett Street ; P.O. Box 1761

Southern Pines, NC 28388

Site Director: Hoyt Bynum

NEW SITE: Brigade Boys & Girls Club

The Brigade Boys & Girls Club is one of the newest Kids Cafe programs supported by the Food Bank. This program serves children in the Wilmington Community. Children at this program are also able to participate in programs that focus on the development of character and leadership skills, education & career skills, health & life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness & recreation. This program operates on Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 2:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and serves approximately 60 children. To volunteer, contact the site director:

2759 Vance Street

Wilmington , NC 28412

Site Director: Derrell Clark