• By Teresa Bryant
• Posted Friday, September 23, 2011

Thanks to the "Village" for all our Children

It takes a “village to raise a child” and our village continues to amaze us with each annual project! Thanks to help from our community, Social Services’ Relatives as Parents Program “RAPP” assisted 200 children who live with grandparents and other relatives to plan and prepare for the 2011 – 12 school year!

RAPP’s 6th Annual School Supply drive surpassed expectations and represents generous support from over 32 community groups, organizations & or individual sponsor donors.

Thanks to generous community sponsors, RAPP provided school supplies and when needed, supplemented with gift cards for more expensive items. Children were provided everything from book bags, filler paper, pencils, markers, crayons, basic calculators, to gently worn clothing to encourage learning!

Social Services Relatives as Parents Program “RAPP” expresses our sincere appreciation to all who organized school supply drives within their groups and those who gave resources to make a difference in the lives of children in our community. All donations become a lot when we work as a team. Special thanks to the individuals who coordinated the projects at their individual locations! Generous community sponsorship is vital in serving our RAPP families!

Our 2011 Community Partners

Businesses, Churches, Groups & Individuals

Businesses:

• Family Dollar Store & Patrons, South Main Street, coordinated by WQMG 97.1 FM
• Hanesbrands, Winston-Salem Customer Service Division, coordinated by Richard Harnish
• Ideal Image, Winston-Salem & Greensboro, coordinated by Rachel Turner
• Northwest Piedmont Council of Government, coordinated by Adriene Calhoun & Holli Ward
• Senior Services of W-S, coordinated by Sharon Kahill & Tracey Hunter Bowens
• Sonoco Corrflex, coordinated by Carrie Hardy
• Target, Corporate Offices, “Family Connections” grant
• Walgreen’s, Corporate Offices, coordinated by Diane Beirman
• Walkertown Family Pharmacy, Walkertown, coordinated by Dale Keith & Gale Presnell
• Winston-Salem Chapter of the National Hampton Alumni Association, NHAA Inc., coordinated by: Anna S. Budzinski

Churches and Groups:

• Eternal Praise Acappella Ensemble, Greensboro, coordinated by Sonya Izzard

Individuals and Students:

• John A. Cocklereece, Jr.
• Michaela Finney, Student, Reagan High School
• J’chelle Hay, Student, Mount Tabor High School
• Roberta Jackson
• Hunter Palm, Crosby Scholar, Mt. Tabor High School
• Gale Presnell, Volunteer and Ian Presnell, Student
• Aaron Roberts, Crosby Scholar, Mt. Tabor High School
• Princess Shaw & Family, coordinated by Princess Shaw
• Drew Wilson, Crosby Scholar, Carter G. Woodson High Schoo

Forsyth County Departments and Divisions

• Insider, Amanda Priddy, TEAM Division, marketing article
• Register of Deeds Office, coordinated by Barbara Kane

Forsyth County Individual Employees

• Mary C. Brooks, Tax Assessor Office
• Sharon Jones, DSS Administration Office
• Barbara Kane, Register of Deeds Office
• Kim Mitchell, TEAM Division
• Ann Roberts, TEAM Division
• Vickie Sullivan, Human Resources, County HR Department
• Theresa Ward & Family, Sheriff’s Office, Detention Division

Other Family & Children’s Divison staff ‘in-kind-service’ with the project:

• Carmelita Burrell
• Latanya Cole
• Annette Estrada
• Bridigitte Lindsay
• Katie McDaniel, UNC Greensboro, Intern
• Jerri Wolfe
• Kristie Wynne

Excitingly, our efforts foster opportunities beyond supplies. We extend special thanks to:

The family of WQMG, 97.1 Radio Station, Greensboro, for their marketing and publicity efforts to help RAPP support these families. They hosted a drive to collect donations for RAPP, marketed the drive on their #1 Urban Contemporary radio station and delivered the items to RAPP. We extend special thanks to Evainna Ross, WQMG Staff, sponsors and loyal listeners.

Our Forsyth County MIS Department for accommodating our computer needs and helping us market RAPP Projects. Also, special thanks to the various anonymous donors who chose to not be identified in this article.

If you or someone you know is a relative raising children from their extended family, please call Teresa Bryant at 336-703-3744 to get information about our activities especially for families like yours! If you would like to assist RAPP with ‘in-kind-services’ or direct funds please call Teresa. Always remember, “It Takes a Village”!