Center awarded food grant

Published 5:14 am Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Summer services to expand; employees needed

The John L. Fisher Community Center’s “Summer Fun Mondays” is expanding thanks to a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant.

Through the Cities Combating Hunger Through After School and Summer Meal Programs, or CHAMPS, the center is now looking to hire part-time summer employees to provide an “awesome summer experience for local children,” said Stephanie Walker, who serves on the Fisher Center Board.

The CHAMPS program services municipalities in three states – Alabama, California and Kansas – to ensure low-income youth continue to have access to healthy food when school is out.

“Which is another of the components we have been working so hard to accomplish for the Fisher Center,” Walker said. “We are so excited about summer 2017.

“For the last three years the community center has offered ‘Summer Fun Mondays from 1-5 p.m. – a wide variety of activities for kids preschool age through sixth grade.

“We are so thrilled to announce that now, because of the CHAMPS grant, the center will expand the summer program to include Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday activities from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. for students of all ages, and now they can also enjoy lunch – plus there is no cost to attend.”

Walker said the center is now looking to fill a small number of part-time positions to provide those services for approximately 16-20 hours each week in June and July, Walker said.

“This program is important to our community for several reasons,” Walker said. “Every child needs something fun to look forward to doing in the summer. Entertaining and lively activities at the center provide that opportunity but those same activities also make it possible for the children to keep learning and expanding their skill set.

“An added bonus is that our high school and college volunteers get valuable real life experience working with children and build their resumes,” she said.

“These applicants should have a background of working with children and good group management skills,” she said. “They need to exhibit initiative and creativity. We’re looking for a great group of people to help provide a great time for our students.”

Those interested in applying should send ones’ resume to the board at P.O. Box 681, Brewton, AL 36427.  Applications are due by Fri., April 28.  Questions about this opportunity can be emailed to sdwschool@gmail.com.