Neighborhood House continues to be a ‘safe haven’ for South Side kids

By Elise Zwicky For Chronicle Media
A group of children play a board game during an after-school program at Neighborhood House on Peoria’s south side. The two-year-old program offers kids a safe haven to get a good meal, find help with school work and learn life skills. (Photo courtesy Neighborhood House)

A group of children play a board game during an after-school program at Neighborhood House on Peoria’s south side. The two-year-old program offers kids a safe haven to get a good meal, find help with school work and learn life skills. (Photo courtesy Neighborhood House)

At the end of the school day, Neighborhood House invites kids from Peoria’s south side to stop in for a nutritious meal, homework help, mentors to talk to and even a chance to make crafts or play board games.

“In addition to a good meal, the kids are learning life skills while they’re here. We’re a safe haven,” said Lisa Kerr-Bisbee, community outreach director for the nonprofit organization, which is celebrating 120 years in Peoria this year.

While the two-year-old after-school program currently has about 13 volunteers, Neighborhood House is seeking more mentors to volunteer one or more days a week from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. weekdays.

The program grew out of a summer effort to offer a free lunch to children and serves kids 18 and younger who primarily attend Roosevelt and Trewyn schools.

“The number of kids who come changes every single day,” Kerr-Bisbee said on a recent Monday afternoon. “Today I have three kids in here, but sometimes we’ve had as many as 68. Knowing how much food to prepare is kind of problematic. Sometimes we have to run back and throw some more in the pot, so to speak. We serve dinner, and 90 percent of the time it’s a hot meal.”

Three to five volunteers are usually on hand to help serve meals, work on crafts, help the kids figure out a math problem or just have a friendly conversation.

“We have some really wonderful volunteers that come to enjoy the children on a personal level and make connections. The only skill needed is an open and loving heart,” Kerr-Bisbee said.

Volunteers currently range from high school age to a woman in her 70s. A Peoria law firm has sort of adopted the program, sending four employees at a time to volunteer, and five Notre Dame High School students help on a regular basis.

“The high school students have made flash cards for the kids, and one girl made some instructional sheets working on short vowel sounds. They just jump right in,” said Kerr-Bisbee.

One of the Notre Dame students, junior Kaila Fennell, has been volunteering at Neighborhood House three days a week for about a month.

“This is a great opportunity to get out of our shells and see what the rest of the world is like,” Fennell said. “It can be easy to live in your own community and not realize what the world outside is like, and I definitely think it is a great place to help get a good perspective on the community of Peoria as a whole. Also, it’s fun to hang out with the kids and get to know them.”

Fennell said it’s rewarding to help the kids who are struggling with homework.

“The best days are when you help a kid figure out a math concept or something. The kids sometimes come from places where education isn’t valued as much, and it is important to show them that through learning they can have anything they want in life,” said Fennell, who has a goal of going to medical school.

While some of the kids were shy or distant initially, Fennell said she’s been able to make connections with several of them, including a girl who now runs up and wraps her in a hug when she walks in the door.

“Another boy, who just wants me to play with him, will pull and tug on my arm until I do an activity with him,” she said. “I usually make him do some sort of word game or something, but he’s just as happy doing that as a non-educational game because he just wants somebody to hang out with him and get to know him.”

Kerr-Bisbee echoed Fennell’s observation that the kids respond well to one-on-one attention.

“There’s always a get-to-know-you period where they’re kind of feeling you out,” Kerr-Bisbee said. “You might hear some salty language. But deep down kids are kids. They want people to like them and they want to be accepted. The process of playing a very simple game goes a long way.”

Kerr-Bisbee said volunteering can be a fun experience for empty-nesters, who get to experience the joy of hearing about a child’s day and sharing in a child’s trials and triumphs.

The program sometimes overlaps with other Neighborhood House outreach efforts, including Meals on Wheels, because the kids make personalized birthday cards for the meal recipients.

“I have a thank you letter from someone who said it was a surprise and blessing to receive her birthday card. People that are receiving Meals on Wheels are doing so for a reason. They’re isolated and have mobility issues of some kind, so the cards are very meaningful to them,” Kerr-Bisbee said.

The program fits in well with Neighborhood House’s mission to alleviate poverty at its root through an array of programs that provide critical short-term relief to diverse communities, while facilitating long-term recovery.

“We want healthy, happy children, and there are so many things that go into that,” Kerr-Bisbee said. “Learning responsibility and how to make good decisions leads to greater life happiness down the road. We’re trying to build up their self-esteem and their communication skills so they can function well in society. Having a safe haven and a place where they feel welcome and not having to contend with going to bed hungry is pretty important.”

To volunteer, call Lisa Kerr-Bisbee at (309) 674-1131 or email her at lisak@nhpeoria.org. For more information about Neighborhood House, visit www.nhpeoria.org.

 

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