We had an exciting fall semester at the Village Library! Thirty-eight students participated in one-on-one after-school tutoring in late 2015. These students are smart and eager to learn, but face many obstacles. Two-thirds of them never hear English spoken in their homes, and all are from homes facing economic challenges.  However, with determination and help from their volunteer tutors, they are succeeding in school,.

For the fall semester, twelve students made all "A"s, eighteen students made "A"s and "B"s, and five students made "A"s, "B"s, and "C"s. (Three report cards are still outstanding.) Of the students using our Hooked On Phonics program, all are currently reading at or above grade level, and more than half of our students are testing at or above grade level using our Moby Max reading and math assessments.

Our students have benefited this year from our new focus on coordinating closely with the HEB ISD. Village Library staff are using the district's "Scope and Sequence" curriculum guidelines to plan enrichment materials for students that match what they are currently learning in school. Staff and volunteers are also checking each students' MOOSE each day. The MOOSE (Management of Organizational Skills Everyday) is a tool used by the HEB ISD to help elementary school students keep track of their lessons and homework assignments. We've also added fun creative writing projects for the children to complete to help build their spelling and grammar skills.

After learning the ropes in her first semester at the Village Library, our new Director of Student Enrichment, Lola Nelson-Spay, is ready to add new students to the program. We have room to add 10 more students before the end of the year, but we need your help! In order to add 10 students, we need 20 new tutors who can share one hour a week with these children. (Students come twice a week, and tutors can commit to one or more hours each week.) If you'd like to help our students succeed in school, please contact Catherine Hollis at catherine.hollis@missioncentraltx.org or 817-595-0011 to learn more. 

We are delighted to announce that at our January board meeting, the CUNA Mutual Foundation renewed its annual gift to Mission Central by presenting us with a $10,000 donation. This marks the seventh year of support from this foundation, which supports local charities in the communities where CUNA Mutual has branch offices.

CUNA Mutual supports Mission Central with more than a financial donation, though. Employees are almost always present at our Mobile Food Pantry, eager to help with distributing food to our neighbors in need. Employees also work together several times a year to provide needed items at our Village Pantry. Their generous donations help stock our shelves with nutritious food for our guests. 

Thanks to the CUNA Mutual Foundation and local employees for their support of Mission Central! If you'd like your company or organization to be more involved with helping our neighbors in need, please contact Mission Central at info@missioncentraltx.org or 817-595-0011.

February's beautiful weather has many of us thinking about spring - and spring cleaning. As you begin sorting through closets and drawers, we hope you'll set a box aside for donations to the Coat of Many Colors.

The Coat of Many Colors resells your gently used clothing and household items, and the proceeds are used to provide services to our community. Our store focuses on selling fashionable clothing and jewelry items, as well household items that are interesting and useful. If you have an item that is torn, stained, or broken, you can help our volunteers by disposing of those items through charities that can recycle them or curbside recycling. The Coat of Many Colors can also accept furniture that is good condition, with no stains or pet damage.