County Executive John R. Leopold will present a $21,000 check to Pastor Sheryl Menendez and students of the Bates Middle School Gems and Jewels After School Program on Monday, December 10, in a brief ceremony at 3:15 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria. The donation and presentation, the first from any County Executive since the program’s existence, will enable 30 additional, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students to participate in the highly sought-after Restoration Community Development Corporation program. This year about 115 students applied to participate in the program, but only 20 students could be accepted because of limited funding. In its nine years of operation at Bates Middle School, the Gems and Jewels After School Program has provided after school care three days-a-week to its program participants and services often extend to their families. Students receive a full dinner meal each day, the last or only meal of the day for many students. The program’s comprehensive programming includes: homework assistance, financial management, Second Step Violence Prevention, life skills, healthy eating, drug/alcohol prevention. Gems and Jewels actively recruits mentors from employers and organizations throughout the community. The program has tapped employees of the City of Annapolis, the county Fire Department, Health Department as well as Maryland State employees and members of the business community and Annapolis Senior High students to staff and counsel the students. |
