BRIGHT BEGINNINGS --- STEPS TO CHILDREN'S SCHOOL SUCCESS

Bright Beginnings is such an important cause to our membership. We hold golf tournaments and work hand in hand with Iredell and Yadkinville YMCAs to ensure kids can start their school year on the right foot.
 

I asked Jerry Hodge how UAW Local 3520 came to be involved with this very important program and he graciously helped me with the information.
 

"In 2012 I held the position of President over NC/SC UAW Community Action Program under the leadership of Gary Casteel - Region 8 Director. In that year, Gary's proclamation to the state CAP presidents was to get involved in areas of high poverty. 
 

My research found that in NC, the 5 counties with the highest amount of poverty were involved in a federal program financed through the Department of Agriculture called "Circles of Care". The "Circles of Care" program was designed to help break the ties of generational poverty and Yadkin county was the closest county to us receiving the funding for this program, so NC/SC CAP and UAW Local 3520 began assisting in this. 
 

The program received about 25 young adults per quarter of the year referred by the Yadkin County Department of Social Services. There were many volunteers from UAW Local 3520 who assisted, but at this point I would like to acknowledge Gina Gardner and Travis Hunt for their steadfast weekly participation. 
 

Every Thursday night we would meet at First United Methodist Church in Yadkinville.  Area churches would rotate in donating dinner for these young adults and their children. The participants would receive a $25 gift card for gas or a $25 gift card for Food Lion, whichever they preferred and the women volunteers would take the children in a separate care room, so there were no reason for these young adults to not actively participate each week. 
 

Guest speakers would come and talk to the participants about things that unfortunately they had not been taught - things like applying for a job, things to say and not say in an interview, paying bills, stretching their dollar in the grocery, 401k savings, medical assistance and so many more topics. This program was so successful that after the 90 days these participants had a job, a new job or two jobs. 
 

After one year we were not receiving enough participation to fill up the class of 25, so therefore the program no longer received federal dollars and it was at this time in 2013 that the Yadkin family YMCA began their "Bright Beginnings" program. Unfortunately many of the children whose parents were participating in the "Circles of Care" were filling slots in the "Bright Beginnings" program and it made sense to assist in that. 
 

The NC/SC UAW Community Action Program board, as well as UAW local 3520 membership supported financially assisting with "Bright Beginnings". It was through our assistance that this program grew from 25 children in Yadkin county to 100+ in not only Yadkin county but Iredell as well.
 

I would like to do a shout out to all those members who have assisted with their presents and gifts to this program that not only has blessed these children but ourselves as well!"