November is the month of Thanksgiving in the United States. It is the #REAL end of the harvest season and a time to be with family, community and others to give and share thanks. It is a time to have food together, to forget about all the squabbles and differences we encounter in every day life and to simply enjoy life.
The families and children at The REAL Program are rich in many ways in that they have a sense of family and community even though many of them struggle to have enough food to feed them all. The sense of together is very strong. The sense of love is very strong. We simply give them the academic support and the extension of love and care that their families already provide. The families recognize that The REAL Program provides more than just books, homework help, literacy games and activities and guided play time. Many people are mislead to believe that these can all be provided by computer games and software. The difference is the people who give of themselves to work with the children. The quality of human connection is #REAL. The volunteers are educated, motivated and enthusiastic to help the children and their families.
The children come to The REAL Program with #REAL hunger that we are able to satisfy with food of fresh fruit and healthy snacks provided by #My Brother's Table. We are often able to provide fresh bread and even pies from Traditional Bread who share their understanding of what is feels like to be hungry.
After we have provided food (either for snack or for taking home to their families for family dinner night), the children need a chance to play, to move, to laugh and be free to create. Some of them want to get their homework done and then go to play. Some of them need to play before they can settle down to read, do homework, draw or play a board game. All of the children are thirsty to learn!
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| Grateful for the opportunity to help. Grateful for the recognition and care. |
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