Bethel Neighborhood Drop-In Center The Youth Drop-In Center provides a low cost, safe and nurturing place for neighborhood children to spend after school and summer hours. Staff, volunteers and youth interns provide friendship, guidance and positive modeling. A variety of enriching and fun activities are available every day. Nutritious meals and snacks are served – often prepared by the children themselves. Activity fees are determined on a sliding scale. The Organization The center works with neighborhood partners including the library, the Blazers boys and girls club and the Oregon Food Bank.
The Drop-In Center is a secular organization, operating as a mission partner with Bethel Lutheran Church. The Center has its own Board of Directors, including currently one parent member from the community. The Center offers no religious instruction; the Bethel pastor is a key figure in the Center’s life, and Drop-In kids and families are free to participate in separate religious programs and instruction offered by Bethel Church. The Church provides building space and offers a 501(c)(3) umbrella. Many friends support the Center with cash donations, volunteer hours, and in-kind donations of food, craft supplies, game equipment, etc. Grants provide a substantial portion of the operating budget of the center. In 2006-2007 major grantors include. Legacy community health fund, the Bethel Players, Metro, St Luke’s Lutheran Church, North Portland Trust Fund, The Drop-In Children and their Families
We serve a neighborhood that is diverse in race, ethnicity, and economic status. Of 48 children from 39 households in the 2005 Summer Program, 17 (36.2%) were African American; 7 (14.9%), European American; 8 (17.0%), Pacific Islander; 11 (23.4%), Hispanic; and 4 (8.5%) reporting more than one race. Many of the children come from low and moderate income families including single-parent homes, foster homes, and homes headed by grandparents or other relatives. Of the 34 families who chose to share at least some demographic data in anonymous 2005 surveys, we know that about 60% have total household incomes less than $40,000, about 40% had incomes less than $30,000, and 17% had incomes under $20,000. Many of our kids are enrolled in free or reduced cost meal programs at their local schools. Enrollment in the Federal Child Nutrition Program at the elementary schools closest to the Center is 69% at Beach Elementary and 60% at Chief Joseph Elementary. Mission statement Mission Statement: Our mission is (1) to provide a safe and fun
place for elementary aged kids in the Bethel Neighborhood to play
and
to learn; Email to: ydic@bethelpdx.org (is this a link to open an email form) |
