CONTACT: Rebecca Parsons or Jan Keister

Community Outreach Program of Roanoke

305 Mountain Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24016

Phone: 540-342-3103 Fax: 540-342-0412

Email: umcopr@roacoxmail.com

July 1, 2013

COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM OF ROANOKE RECEIVES AEP FOUNDATION, FOR KIDS ONLY & FOOD LION GRANTS

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 evenings during the school year. 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 also provides education and support materials, field trips and arts/music events and evening meals prepared by dedicated volunteers. The program is open to all inner-city children. A separate grant of $1,350 from For Kids Only will be used for the new Computer Literacy program scheduled to begin

this fall. In addition, the Food Lion Charitable Foundation has donated $3,500 for the U Feed Others program, which

sends pre-packaged meals home with children.

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

living in poverty in the city of Roanoke, Virginia by providing many programs. Included in our services are tutoring,

school supplies and programs such as You 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, UMCOPR

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. This

program is for ALL children, regardless of race or religion.

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 parents and

youth. For information call 540-342-3103 or visit the website at http://www.communityoutreachroanoke.org/