Project Make [it] count: WFP

Donating toys to a local community center

My first week on Project Make [it] count was challenging and frustrating, but very rewarding. I drove to Baltimore, Maryland, on Friday, November 14, about 2 p.m. and noticed the beautiful Baltimore scenery as I crossed over a bridge. I thought to myself that most people are familiar with beautiful Baltimore attractions such as the harbor, the stadiums, the aquarium, and the museums. But I know that most people have not seen the "other" side of Baltimore, where drugs, crime, murder, and poverty reign. I've seen parks that were full of homeless families, houses with deplorable conditions, and children in seemingly hopeless circumstances.

With these thoughts in the back of my mind, I eagerly awaited my visit with the Christian Community Center (CCC) on Hollins Street in Baltimore. The first thing that I noticed was the building's small size. The CCC is in a residential community and occupies a single-family, three-story row house.

I opened the front door and was greeted by the center's director, Tom Homans, who gave me a tour of the facilities and explained the mission and needs of the organization in more detail. I then went outside, where I found a cozy playground complete with a basketball court and play area. I started by taking a few pictures of the children during playtime, and immediately noticed a competition for my attention.

Shortly after my arrival, it was time for the children to return inside for a time of lessons and a song. The lesson for the day dealt with gossiping and the damage that it causes. At the end of the lesson, I volunteered to teach the children how to make (sophisticated) paper airplanes, as this was a hobby of mine as a child.

Next, we returned outside for basketball, airplane flying, and fun. The challenges and frustration came when we attempted to complete the photo disclosure authorization forms. Mr. Homans and I completed an authorization form for every child whose face appeared in any picture that I took, and with group pictures and more than 40 children present that day, our task was daunting.

I completed the day by discussing a little more about the organization's needs, and discussing with Mr. Homans the best way to meet them. I look forward to returning next week and spending more time with the children.

Bringing the children in

My second week on Project Make [it] count was as exciting and challenging as the first. I began the week with thoughts of how to comply with my original goal of increasing the seed money through donations, as the Christian Community Center does not participate in fundraisers.

I decided to talk to Pastor Johnson of Grace Bible Baptist Church, where I have been a member for less than one year. I shared with Pastor Johnson the objective of Project Make [it] count, and my week 1 journal, and he committed a minimum of $100 to the project, with a goal of $350 through membership donations. I also received a $100 commitment from a source who chose to remain anonymous, potentially bringing the total donations from outside sources to between $200 and $450. If our goal is reached, then we will have doubled the original $450 Project Make [it] count seed money.

The next thing that I focused my attention on for the week was what need(s) could be met with the money that comes in. I received a list of items from Mr. Homans, the director of CCC, and at the top of this list was a video game system. My first reaction was that I wanted to provide something that was more educational, or something that better filled a physical need, and then I realized that the CCC itself, with the help of its counselors, already meets the physical, educational, spiritual, and emotional needs of the children. It just needs ways to bring the children in, and as the weather turns, and on rainy days, the center's attendance drops. A Wii or a PlayStation gaming system would solve this problem!

Of course, if all of the money we are expecting comes in, we will be able to fill many more needs including: a digital camera, a ladder, educational learning aids, basketballs, footballs, and jump ropes. My hope is to be able to provide all of these items.

I arrived at the CCC at 3 p.m. Tuesday and spent more time with the kids and took more pictures of the facilities. This day I learned that the center has several more rooms upstairs that I did not see before. So I took pictures of each room noticing that each had a purpose. There were classrooms, play rooms, lecture rooms, an extra kitchen, a laundry room, and a room with donated clothes. I was encouraged to see that this small house was so well organized and had so many ways of meeting the children's needs.

I met a mother of one child who explained how the center has been a blessing for her teenage son, and how she has seen positive results from the encouragement, education, and counseling provided by the CCC.

Next, it was time for the daily afternoon lesson, which focused on respect for authority and the consequences of disrespecting authority. The kids then begged me to make more paper airplanes, and it was back outside to fly them, play basketball, and enjoy the weather before winter hits.

I expect my next week at the CCC will be the most rewarding of all, as I plan to give the lesson for the day and surprise them at the end with between $650 and $900 worth of helpful, educational, fun gifts.

Maybe it's a Wu

My third week on Project Make [it] Count was particularly rewarding. By Black Friday, the biggest shopping day in America, I had received an additional $350 in donations and decided to join in the shopping craze.

I'm not one to jump from store to store searching for deals, so I decided to go to Best Buy, and shop for the "big ticket" items. I managed to purchase a Wii gaming system with several accessories, a Hooked On Phonics learning system, and a digital camera—with $110 to spare! The Wii, of course, is the big item as far as the kids are concerned, so in an effort to ensure that I knew how to connect, play, and teach its use, I opened it up and practiced at home—poor me! As you will see later, this was actually a great decision, but in the meantime, my 11-year-old daughter took advantage of my 5-year-old son and me in a game of doubles tennis.

By Thursday, December 4, I received an additional $100, a donated used PlayStation gaming system, and a donated new DVD player. I decided to go to Wal-Mart to spend the last $110. This shopping day was a little more challenging, as I did not have a list of needed items because we received more donations than expected. I obviously wanted to make the $110 stretch as far as possible, but I also wanted to get useful, practical items.

Keeping in mind that a challenge for the CCC is to attract kids in the winter months, and when it rains outside, I continued to purchase useful items that would keep the kids busy while not receiving a lesson during indoor sessions. I spent several hours evaluating board games, educational items, and fun toys. Although I spent an extra 8 or 9 bucks, I was surprised to see how far $119 can go with a little frugality.

Friday, December 5, 2008

I arrived at the CCC early to help clean up and prepare for the kids' arrival after school. Our plan was to have a lesson at 3:30 p.m., and then make an announcement about the Wii and other gifts.

I took a quick glance at the television to be used for the Wii and noticed that it was relatively modern with the standard 3 video/audio connections. I figured set-up time to be 10 minutes, maximum. At 2:30 p.m. some of the children started to arrive, and I decided to set up the Wii a little early. I connected it exactly as I did at home, set the television to the video settings, and was prepared to play a quick game. Unfortunately, nothing happened. I knew it was set up correctly, but it had no picture at all. Tom Homans, the CCC director, said the television hadn't been used in a while and suggested that I try one of the other two televisions.

I took consolation in the fact that there were two more televisions and was thankful that I successfully set it up at home; otherwise I would have continued trying on the "bad" television. I was a little concerned with the second TV set, as it had only 1 audio connection and 1 video connection, and it was considerably older. Also it did not have the video display setting that I was used to. I thought back to my Atari days and hoped that Channel 3 would work.

I connected everything to the best of my ability, turned to Channel 3, and nothing! Channel 1, Channel 2, Channel 4, and others, nothing! Good thing there's one more television, I thought. I asked Mr. Homans whether I could look at the last TV set before I continued to struggle with the second one. His reply was, "OK, but it's a little older." "A little older?" I thought. "Older than this 1980s version?" I took one look at the last television and noticed the rabbit ear antennae and the turn knob channel changer, and thought, "Houston, we have a problem."

I went back to the second one, and decided to try one last thing. I connected the VCR to the television and ran the Wii through it. As I fumbled through the VCR settings, Tom said "We got something!" I took a look, and saw Nintendo Wii writing on the screen -Whew!" We switched the TV sets, and set it up for a final time. I played a quick game (to ensure integrity - of course), and prepared to give the lesson for the day as Tom Homans asked me to talk to the kids about what I do.

I talked to the kids about project management, the importance of hard work, and the treasure that they have in the CCC. Then it was time to share the fun. I told them about Project Make [it] Count and why I had been "hanging around" for the past three weeks. And then I started opening the bag of goods. I gave Mr. Homans the DVD player, the digital camera, and the Hooked On Phonics learning system. Then I started slowly distributing the toys, reminding the children that everything is for the center.

I gave out a couple of balls, a few playing cards, and some board games. As the toys got better, the emotions rose. By the time I announced the donated PlayStation all the kids were on their feet. Then I announced that we had one more item, but (as I explained it) I needed their help with the name. "I think it's called a Wo," I said. One child yelled a "Wii," but most were confused. "Maybe it's a Wu," I stated. A few more shouts of Wii came out, as I said; "It's a ME!" Then everybody started shouting "a Wii, a Wii"! I confirmed their assumptions, and we selected groups of children to go upstairs and play.

When I returned downstairs to continue picture taking, I noticed that every item, from the deck of cards to the Wii, was being used. A game of tag football was going on outside, the new basketball was the feature on the basketball court, and inside the tables were full of children playing games.

I felt a sense of pride, knowing that more children would undoubtedly join the CCC once the news of the new items spread. I am most proud of the fact that the seed money truly grew, sprouting to a total that exceeded $1,000. The CCC director and children give their thanks and appreciation to PwC and the Grace Bible Baptist Church for their donations. I enjoyed Project Make [it] Count and felt fortunate to be a part of this successful venture.