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Florida DCF Names Carver Community Center As One Of State’s Top Causes
December 13, 2012
The Carver Community Center aims to be a beacon of light for the children of Century. But step inside the aging building, and you find a group working, like the old adage, to make something out of almost nothing.
Hallways with peeling paint, lit by single, bare light bulbs lead to classrooms with aging computers in a building constructed nearly 70 year ago.”Attitude is the little thing that makes a BIG difference,” a banner on a classroom wall states.
“We work with what we have,” Carver Community Center Association board member Henry Hawkins said. “Where there’s a need in the community, we try to reach out.”
From their Jefferson Street location, the Carver Community Center is known for reaching out and helping those in need. Now the Florida Department of Children and Families is reaching out and asking the public to help the Century organization.
The Carver Community Center is one of the 12 causes in need being highlighted this Christmas season by the DCF for the department’s “Operation Santa Cause” statewide campaign.
Completely funded by donations, the Carver Community Center provides a safe place for children to go after school and during the summer as the center provides meals for 150 to 200 children daily. The center also offers tutoring services for children year round.
The center’s needs include internet service (about $100 per month) and 15 computers to replace current computers that are old, slow and sometimes non-functioning. The center also needs 15 licenses for “Ultimate Speed Reader” software (about $35 each) used to assist children in developing reading skills.
For information on how to help the Carver Community Center, contact Nicole Stookey with the Florida Department of Children and Families at (850) 488-0568.
Pictured top: The sun sets recently on the Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue in Century. Pictured inset: One of the classrooms inside the aging building. Pictured below: Carver Community Center Association board member Henry Hawkins tries to demonstrate reading software used by the center to teach children, but the aging computer malfunctioned. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
6 Responses to “Florida DCF Names Carver Community Center As One Of State’s Top Causes”
This sancuary for children and young adults is the cornerstone for unique services for the Century area. It has been a blessing to both young and old. The Board and Director have such a broad vision for this area. Your support will effect the lives of countless individuals of all races. It is my prayer; that it will change the community “one life at a time”.
i grew up next to this building and my mom still lives there to this day!!! This is a place where anyone could go and feel right at home!!!
The Carver Community center has been a big part of the Century community for many years. My children attended afterschool and summer programs there. It has provided a place for children that would otherwise have nowhere to go and nothing to do. I pray that as a community, we can come together and do whatever we can to help out. We need to keep the center open for the children.
i attended the carver community center every summer as a child. That summer program was so essential to me. It helped me out alot. Anyone that can help keep this building and organization going please do so. It has helped families in so many ways unimaginable. I will say that the building need some TLC. If I had the money, there is not a doubt in my mind that I would donate money or supplies needed to help keep carver community center going. To all the people that have dedicated their precious time to work with me as a child and now my children during the summer THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. There are children out there that need that TLC and can come to the commumnity & receive just that. Please anyone that can help in anyway please do so.
I too spent some summers at the center as a child with women who were a great inspiration to me and others. It was a much needed service then and it is especially needed now for the children in that community. Century we need to do our part to help the center continue to help our children.
As a child I went there and was given much love by the people who volunteered their time and money! No one made them do it. They are angels sent from God. They don’t ask for a pat on the back but sure need more than that!!! Thank u to all that serve the community because u don’t have to do it!!!