Rebecca Parsons, Executive Director

305 Mountain Ave. SW

Roanoke, VA 24016

(540) 342-3103

communityoutreachroanoke.org

umcopr@roacoxmail.com

June 3, 2013

COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM OF ROANOKE

ANNOUNCES AEP FOUNDATION GRANT DONATION

The Community Outreach Program of Roanoke is thrilled to announce that they were recently

selected for a grant of $25,000 from the AEP Foundation to improve services to urban Roanoke

Children. This funding will help grow the evening education and meal program for children and

youth, which is at Trinity United Methodist Church, West End United Methodist Church and Fairview

United Methodist Church near downtown Roanoke during the school year.

The additional funding will allow the organization to increase the student population by 25% going

from 45 to 60 children and youth attending Tuesday-Thursday (5:15-8:15pm). This will include a safe

child to staff ratio and transportation to and from the program. The staff’s friendly familiar faces

support the children and encourage their learning as well as giving them desperately needed

attention in academics, creativity, and emotional well-being. The program provides education and

support materials, field trips and arts/music events and evening meals prepared by dedicated

volunteers. The program is open and free to all inner-city children.

The Community Outreach Program is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization improving the quality of life of

inner city children in the city of Roanoke, Virginia by providing many programs. Included in our

services are tutoring, school supplies and programs such as U Feed Others (UFO) food security, Kid’s

clothing exchange, Christmas Angels and summer camp. In the 2011/2012 program year 83

registered children received 10,410 meals.

The program was started September 1989 by the United Methodist Women of Trinity United Methodist

Church as an outreach to the children living in downtown Roanoke neighborhoods. Initially they met

once each week and had a warm meal together. As word spread about the program, more and

more volunteers wanted to help. Today, the Community Outreach Program transports children and

youth from their homes three nights each week, while a group of volunteers prepares meals for them.

After dinner, children are engaged in learning: math, spelling, reading, and even physical education.

The programming is varied and tailored to individual needs and goals. The organization also offers

special dinners and fun events at Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as providing school supplies,

weekend meal packs from the You Feed Others (UFO) program, free clothing from a volunteer run

Clothes Closet, Camp scholarships to the local camp Alta Mons, and Christmas Angel gifts of new

clothes and toys to ensure all children experience the season of giving.

The Community Outreach Program is currently exploring partnerships with after school programs and

other organizations providing services to families, and is accepting applications for the 2013-2014

school year. For information call 540-342-3103 or visit the website at

http://www.communityoutreachroanoke.org/