Apples Season-A Time to Share

St. Mark Youth Enrichment, for many students and families, is a chance to help them succeed and a vision that they did not have before.  For the past 26 years, our organization has served tens of thousands of students right here in our own backyard. We have some students who need an affordable, safe and structured program before or after school, students who benefit academically and socially from one on one homework help, and some students who are able to experience things that many of us take for granted. Even though I am able to literally see the impact we are making every day, I am also reminded of the work we have left to do.

As our summer programs wrap up here in our center, at Summer Academy and in our Dyersville pilot location, we are far from done. With the end of summer comes the beginning of the school year and we are always striving to make program better and stronger. We are also in Apples season. Apples for Students is an initiative that was started back in 1996 to provide school supplies to students who need them. This year we are looking at serving around 1300 students! On top of that, we are still looking for ways we can improve. On Saturday, August 2nd, we will be collaborating with community partners to host a Back to School Bash at Comiskey Park from 12-2PM. Families can come to this free event and learn about free resources in their community that are there to help. They can also sign up for the Apples for Students Program-one last chance to make sure everyone has what they need to succeed.

I guess the lesson I am learning through all of this is that there is need and it is sometimes where we least expect it. We get phone calls daily from people who are looking for help with food or school clothes or high school students who stop in and ask if they can also receive school supplies.  We are so proud of the community we live in but also know that there is so much more work and collaboration that needs to happen. Please let us know if you are willing to join us in making the entire Dubuque area better and stronger.