ROCKFORD, IOWA – A before and after school program in Floyd county for elementary school kids has been deemed a success.
The Floyd County Community Foundation has awarded a $4,000 grant to the Grow Rockford Together nonprofit organization which will help support a before and after school program for elementary students. This program, the B/ASK (Before/After School Kids) program, is now in its 7th year at the Rudd/Rockford/Marble Rock Elementary School located in Rockford, Iowa. Children in the lower elementary grades gather on a daily basis before and after school to complete homework, eat a snack, create a seasonal craft, and play games in the gym. This program is managed by a local committee of volunteers, and allows parents the ability to leave there children in a safe and fun environment before and after school.
Director Deb Kadera was quoted as saying, “We do whatever we can to work with the parents of children who need before and after school supervision. We want this time to be fun, while providing an enriching experience for our students.”
On a recent day, the children were busy with a craft relating to the NCAA finals – making their own sports balls out of paper plates. The finished products were as varied as the students who created them: basketballs, soccer balls, and even a “Princess” ball. Not only did the students get to use multiple art forms, but also participated in spirited conversation on their favorite final four teams.
The B/ASK program begins in September and runs through the end of the school year in May. As soon as summer vacation starts, Grow Rockford Together also sponsors the SOAR program (School’s Out at Rockford) which will run from May through August. This day camp experience also takes place at the Rudd/Rockford/Marble Rock School and includes meals, educational opportunities, physical activity and road trips to area attractions.
The Floyd County Community Foundation is a local organization that is in Floyd County, for good. To create a stronger county, the Floyd County Community Foundation helps people establish permanent funds for the causes they care about in their community, and it invests in creating more vibrant communities by providing grant opportunities to local nonprofit organizations. Since its inception in 2006, the Floyd County Community Foundation has awarded nearly $1 million in grants.
The Floyd County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, a nonprofit committed to creating long-term impact in 20 counties in Iowa.
