Pine Manor Improvement Association Inc

IT IS TO PROVIDE VALUABLE RESOURCES TO MEET THE DAILY NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THIS INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO A FOOD BANK, ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING AND SERVICES, AVAILABILITY OF COMPUTERS TO COMPLETE JOB SEARCHES, RESUME WRITING ASSISTANCE, APPLICATIONS FOR JOBS, ACCESS ASSISTANCE FOR FOOD STAMPS AND MEDICAID AND AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY WE WILL USE FUNDS TO IMPROVE NEIGHBORHOOD INVOLVEMENT IN OUR TEN ANNUAL EVENTS INCLUDING: EASTER EGG HUNT, OUR ANNUAL KEEP LEE COUNTY BEAUTIFUL TRASH BASH,VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION DINNER, END OF SUMMER FLING (OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE 300 CHILDREN WITH BACK PACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES), CELEBRATING SAFECOMMUNITIES (COMMUNITY MARCH), MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY, ANNUAL "TRUNK OR TREAT, THANKSGIVING DINNER FOR NEIGHBORHOOD AND CHRISTMAS DINNER WITHSANTA AND OUR ADOPT A FAMILY PROGRAM. OUR ORGANIZATION HAS INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, SERVING ALMOST 1500 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTSEACH MONTH WITH 55% OF THOSE SERVED BEING CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 0-18. AMONG THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR PROGRAMS, THE AVERAGEYEARLY INCOME IS $13,000. ALL OF THE CHILDREN CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN OUR PROGRAMS ARE RECIPIENTS OF THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM AT SCHOOL. MANYOF OUR PROGRAMS ARE PREVENTION-ORIENTATED AND RE DEVOTED TO PREVENTING SCHOOL FAILURE AND DELINQUENCY AMONG AT-RISK YOUTH. PROGRAMS SUCH AS OURS ARETHE BASIS FOR AN EFFECTIVE CONTINUUM OF CARE BECAUSE THEY ARE OFTEN THE POINT OF ENTRY FOR FAMILIES IN NEED OF MULTIPLE SERVICES. BY INTERACTING WITH THEFAMILIES ON DAILY BASIS, WE ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SERVICES NEEDED AND MAKE REFERRALS AS APPROPRIATE. EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAMMING,PMIA EMBRACES THE PHILOSOPHY THAT OUR ROLE IS TO HELP END HUNGER AND ALLOW OUR CLIENT TO ACHIEVE SELF- SUSTAINABILITY. TO THIS END, WE STRIVE TO MEET THEFOLLOWING GOALS: *MEET THE FOOD NEEDS OF ALL PINE MANOR *PROMOTE GOOD NUTRITION AND HEALTH * FOSTER COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT * STRENGTHENLOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS *HONOR AND CELEBRATE DIVERSE CULTURES AND TRADITIONS. *BUILD THE CAPACITY FOR PEOPLE TO CREATE CHANGE THROUGHEMPOWERMENT. * EDUCATE THE RESIDENT OF THE BENEFITS AND JOY OF GROWING, PREPARING, AND EATING THEIR OWN FOOD. UNFORTUNATELY, GIVEN THE ECONOMICCONDITIONS OF THE AREA WE SERVE, THIS IS AN ONGOING STRUGGLE. HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO REACH THE LONG TERM GOAL TO END HUNGER, WE HAVE VERY SPECIFICOBJECTIVES. WHEN A CLIENT COMES TO OUR CENTER SEEKING FOOD WE HAVE ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS AND PERSONNEL WHO ASK QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CLIENT'S PARTICULARNEED. WE ASSIST THEM WITH SIGNING UP FOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS SNAP, UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION, FILLING OUT JOB APPLICATION, RESUMES AND CONNECTINGTHEM TO JOB RESOURCES. WE ALSO STRIVE TO HELP INFLUENCE DIETARY CHOICES FOR BETTER HEALTH THROUGH VARIOUS WORKSHOPS. IN ADDITION, PMIA IS WORKING WITHUNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S EXTENSION SERVICES AND LEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP NEW PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, PROVIDINGEDUCATION ON NUTRITION. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: *URBAN AGRICULTURE *COMMUNITY AND BACK YARD GARDEN *INCREASED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE FRESH PRODUCE *NUTRITION EDUCATION AND FOOD SELF-RELIANCE *WORKSHOPS. TEEN OUTREACH PROGRAMMING THE TEEN OUTREACH PROGRAM IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED, BROAD,DEVELOPMENTAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS THAT ATTEMPTS TO HELP TEENS UNDERSTAND AND EVALUATE THEIR LIFE OPTIONS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES THEE ESSENTIALPROGRAM COMPONENTS: CLASSROOM/GROUP INSTRUCTION, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND SERVICE LEARNING. CLASSROOM/GROUP INSTRUCTION INVOLVES SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIESAND DISCUSSIONS ON AGE/STAGE-APPROPRIATE TOPICS OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO YOUNG PEOPLE, ALLOWING THEM TO EXAMINING THEIR VALUES AND MASTER LIFE SKILLS WITHINA SUPPORTIVE PEER GROUP GUIDED BY A TRAINED ADULT FACILITATOR. COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFERS PARTICIPANTS A VARIETY OF SERVICE AND VOLUNTEER ROLE, WHICH PROVIDESYOUTHS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OTHERS, RECONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, CHALLENGES THEM TO LEARN NEW SKILLS AND AUTHENTICATES THEIRSTRENGTHS AND TALENTS. SERVICE LEARNING LINKS THE COMMUNITY SERVICE EXPERIENCE TO THE CLASSROOM OR GROUP INSTRUCTION AND ULTIMATELY TO STUDENTS' LIVES BYALLOWING YOUTH TO PROCESS AND REFLECT ON THEIR SERVICE ACTIVITIES. THE TEEN OUTREACH PROGRAM (TOP) CURRICULUM FOCUS IS TWOFOLD: (1) HELPING STUDENTSPREPARE FOR THE REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES THROUGH FOSTERING SELF- ESTEEM, CONFIDENCE, SOCIAL SKILLS, DECISION MAKING AND DISCIPLINE; AND (2) PERSONAL ANDSOCIAL DEVELOPMENTAL GROWTH AND GUIDANCE THROUGH AN EXPLORATION OF PERSONAL AND LIFE VALUES, UNDERSTANDING ONESELF AND OTHERS, BUILDING LIFE SKILLS,MECHANISMS FOR COPING WITH STRESS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND THE TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD. CORE CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE VALUES CLARIFICATION,RELATIONSHIPS, COMMUNICATION, INFLUENCE, GOAL SETTING, DECISION MAKING, ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING. THE GROUP OFAPPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 BOYS AND GIRLS MEET 4 DAYS A WEEK AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. IN ADDITION TO THE CURRICULUM MENTIONED ABOVE, THE PROGRAM ALSOINCLUDES *HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE *FRIDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES *FIELD TRIPS *GATE TRAINING. GATE IS GANG AWARENESS TRAINING EDUCATION. THIS CURRICULUM IS TOSUPPLEMENT WHAT IS NOT TAUGHT IN THE TOP PROGRAM. THE LEARN ABOUT *RESPECT *BULLYING *CYBERBULLYING *GATEWAY DRUGS *GANGS *PRESCRIPTION DRUGS*TEENS AND THE LAW *TEEN CRIMES *INTERNET SAFETY. GATE CAN BE TAUGHT TO BOTH THE TEEN GROUP AND TO THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM. IN THE ELEMENTARY AGESTHEY ALSO TEACH ABOUT *STRANGER DANGER *FRIENDS *FEELINGS *PEER PRESSURE. LITERACY PROGRAMMING: ALTHOUGH LEE COUNTY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANTPROGRESS IN PROVIDING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION, A VAST MAJORITY OF PINE MANOR RESIDENTS CANNOT READ OR WRITE ENGLISH. MANY OF THOSE AFFECTED AREADULT WOMEN WHO ARE ALREADY LIVING IN POOR CONDITIONS THAT ARE FURTHER EXASPERATED BY THEIR LACK OF ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE. PINE MANOR COMMUNITYCENTER HAS PARTNERED WITH CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER TO BRING AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM TO THE COMMUNITY TO ASSIST CHILDREN WITH THEIR HOMEWORK ANDREADING SKILLS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM DO NOT HAVE ANYONE IN THE HOME THAT SPEAKS THE LANGUAGE TO ASSIST. LITERACY HAS A PROFOUND SOCIO-ECONOMICIMPACT ON OUR FAMILIES AND PERPETUATES THE CYCLES OF POVERTY (DUE TO LIMITED PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY, LACK OF SKILLS NEEDED TO GAINING FORMAL EMPLOYMENT ANDINABILITY TO EDUCATE THEIR OWN CHILDREN). THIS CHALLENGE FACING OUR FAMILIES HAS PROFOUNDLY UNDERMINED THEIR ABILITY TO BREAK OUT OF THE VICIOUS CYCLE OFPOVERTY AND EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN PMIA RECOGNIZES LITERACY IS BOTH THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF NUMEROUS SOCIAL CHALLENGES. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THELITERACY COUNCIL OF LEE COUNTY TO TRAIN SOMEONE TO TEACH ENGLISH. WE ALSO PROVIDE A GED CLASS SO THAT ADULTS CAN IMPROVE THEMSELVES BY GETTING THEIRDIPLOMA SO THEY CAN MOVE ON TO COLLEGE AND TO BE MORE EMPLOYABLE. COST PER CLIENT SERVED PER MONTH CALCULATIONS USED IS THE AVERAGE OFTOTAL CLIENTS SERVE PER MONTH DIVIDED BY OUR TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES OF OUR PROGRAM. OUR ANNUAL OPERATIONS BUDGET IS $56,000 AND WE SERVE APPROXIMATELY 3,000 CLIENTS PER MONTH. THE COST PER CLIENT SERVED PER MONTH IS APPROXIMATELY $1.56.