Despite COVID-19, Fayetteville’s local nonprofit, Lifesource International, has continued their after school program, with certain restrictions, in order to aid the community during these unprecedented times.
Lifesource International’s Director Jimmie Conduff, said that the nonprofit’s main goal is to help strengthen families in the community. They offer a wide variety of services including: a food storehouse, a clothing pantry, counseling and education programs, and an after school program. Their free after school program centers around offering children opportunities to develop their educational, social and physical needs. By doing this, Conduff believes they are able to relieve stress from these families.
It is a fully funded after school program that centers around academics. Their after school teachers, like Emily Strenk, and volunteers come together to help supplement what a busy parent might not have the time to do.
This year, due to the pandemic, there was concern that Lifesource International might not be able to offer the program. Once the news of COVID-19 hit, it shut down in March when the state ordered the public to stay-at-home. In the meantime, Lifesource International staff took the summer to reformulate their program in order to make sure their facilities were safe and secure for the children.
They spaced out the tables and separated the kids by the different elementary schools they come from in order to prevent further spreading of the virus. Normally, there are other college students there to help tutor the children on their homework, but outside volunteers are limited due to COVID-19. In addition, they require face masks for both the children and the teachers, while they are inside the building.
“Our main goal is to protect the kids, while offering a sense of normalcy this year,” Strenk said. “But in the beginning, it was definitely a fight to make sure six year olds were wearing their masks and properly distanced.”
Their main focus is still on education, but Strenk said that this year they have shifted their program in order to offer a more stress free environment.
“The kids started out frustrated with the new restrictions and unmotivated to work on homework,” said Strenk. “But as time went on, and we tried to create a more positive environment, the kids have adapted well to the changes.”
Conduff said that the most helpful thing the community can do right now for Lifesource International is to take precautions of the virus seriously in order to stop the spread in the community.
With this program, Lifesource International is able to aid the adults in the community and foster the development of the children of Fayetteville.
