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 500 CHILDREN WITH BACK PACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES), CELEBRATING SAFE COMMUNITIES (COMMUNITY MARCH), MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY, ANNUAL "TRUNK OR TREAT", THANKSGIVING DINNER FOR NEIGHBORHOOD AND CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH SANTA AND OUR ADOPT A FAMILY PROGRAM, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, SERVING ALMOST 1500 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS EACH MONTH WITH 55% OF THOSE SERVED BEING CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 0-18. AMONG THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR PROGRAMS, THE AVERAGE YEARLY INCOME IS $20,000. ALL OF THE CHILDREN CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN OUR PROGRAMS ARE RECIPIENTS OF THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM AT SCHOOL. MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE PREVENTION-ORIENTATED AND DEVOTED TO PREVENTINGSCHOOL FAILURE AND DELINQUENCY AMONG AT-RISK YOUTH. PROGRAMS SUCH AS OURS ARE THE BASIS FOR AN EFFECTIVE CONTINUM 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 PHILSOPHY THAT OUR ROLE IS TO HELP END HUNGER AND ALLOW OUR CLIENTS TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUSTAINABILITY. TO THIS END, WE STRIVE TO MEET THE FOLLOWING GOALS: *MEET THE FOOD NEEDS OF ALL PINE MANOR *PROMOTE GOOD NUTRITION AND HEALTH *FOSTER COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT *STRENGTHEN LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS *HONOR AND CELEBRATE DIVERSE CULTURES AND TRADITIONS *BUILD THE CAPACITY FOR PEOPLE TO CREATE CHANGE THROUGH EMPOWERMENT *EDUCATE THE RESIDENT OF THE BENEFITS AND JOY OF GROWING, PREPARING, AND EATING THEIR OWN FOOD. UNFORTUNATELY, GIVEN THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS 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 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES. WHEN A CLIENT COMES TO OUR CENTER SEEKING FOOD, WE HAVE ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS AND PERSONNEL WHO ASK QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CLIENT'S PARTICULAR NEED. WE ASSIST THEM WITH SIGNING UP FOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS SNAP, UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION, FILLING OUT JOB APPLICATIONS, RESUMES AND CONNECTING THEM TO JOB RESOURCES. WE ALSO STRIVE TO HELP INFULENCE DIETARY CHOICES FOR BETTER HEALTH THROUGH VARIOUS WORKSHOPS. IN ADDITION, PMIA IS WORKING WITH UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S EXTENSION SERVICES AND LEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP NEW PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, PROVIDING EDUCATION 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 ATTEMPT TO HELP TEENS UNDERSTAND AND EVALUATE THEIR LIFE OPTIONS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES THREE ESSENTIAL PROGRAM COMPONENTS: CLASSROOM/GROUP INSTRUCTION, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SERVICE LEARNING. CLASSROOM/GROUP INSTRUCTION INVOLVES SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSIONS ON AGE/STAGE APPROPRIATE TOPICS OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO YOUNG PEOPLE. THIS ALLOS THEM TO EXAMINE THEIR VALUES AND MASTER LIFE SKILLS WITHIN A SUPPORTIVE PEER GROUP GUIDED BY A TRAINED ADULT FACILITATOR. COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFERS PARTICIPANTS A VARIETY OF SERVICE AND VOLUNTEER ROLE, WHICH PROVIDES YOUTH WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OTHERS, RECONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, CHALLENGES THEM TO LEARN NEW SKILLS ANDAUTHENTICATES THEIR STRENGTHS AND TALENTS. SERCIVE LEARNING LINK THE COMMUNITY SERVICE EXPERICENCE TO THE CLASSROOM OR GROUP INSTRUCTION AND ULTIMATELY TO STUDENTS' LIVES BY ALLOWING YOUTH TO PROCESS AND REFLECT ON THEIR SERVICE ACTIVITIES. THE TEEN OUTREACH PROGRAM (TOP) CURRICULUM FOCUS IS TWOFOLD: (1) HELPING STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THE REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES THROUGH FOSTERING SELF-ESTEEM CONFIDENCE, SOCIAL SKILLS, DECISION MAKING AND DISCIPLINE; AND (2) PERSONAL AND SOCIAL 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, ADOLESCENET DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING. THE GROUP OF APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 BOYS AND GIRLS MEET 1 DAYS A WEEK AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. IN ADDITION TO THE CURRICULUM MENTIONED ABOVE, THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES *HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE *FRIDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES *FIELD TRIPS *GATE TRAINING. GATE TRAINING IS GANG AWARENESS TRAINING EDUCATION. THIS CURRICULUM IS TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT IS NOT TAUGHT IN THE TOP PROGRAM. THEY 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 AGES THEY ALSO TEACH ABOUT *STRANGER DANGER *FRIENDS * FEELINGS *PEER PRESSURE. LITERACY PROGRAMMING: ALTHOUGH LEE COUNTY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN PROVIDING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION, A VAST MAJORITY OF PINE MANOR RESIDENTS CANNOT READ OR WRITE ENGLISH. MANY OF THOSE AFFECTED ARE ADULT WOMEN WHO ARE ALREADY LIVING IN POOR CONDITIONS THAT ARE FURTHER EXASPERATED BY THEIR LACK OF ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE. PINE MANOR COMMUNITY CENTER HAS PARTNERD WITH CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER TO BRING AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM TO THE COMMUNITY TO ASSIST CHILDREN WITH THEIR HOMEWORK AND READING SKILLS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM DO NOT HAVE ANYONE IN THE HOME THAT SPEAKS THE LANGUAGE TO ASSIST. LITERACY HAS A PROFOUND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT ON OUR FAMILIES AND PERPETUATES THE CYCLES OF POVERTY (DUE TO LIMITED PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY, LACK OF SKILLS NEEDED TO GAIN FORMAL EMPLOYMENT AND INABLILITY TO EDUCATE THEIR OWN CHILDREN). THIS CHALLENGE FACING OUR FAMILIES HAS PROFOUNDLY UNDERMINED THEIR ABILITY TO BREAK OUT OF THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF POVERTY AND EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN. PMIA RECOGNIZES LITERACY IS BOTH THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF NUMEROUS SOCIAL CHALLENGES. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE LITERACY COUNCIL OF LEE COUNTY TO TRAIN SOMEONE TO TEACH ENGLISH. WE ALSO PROVIDE A GED CLASS SO THAT ADULTS CAN IMPROVE THEMSELVES BY GETTING THEIR DIPLOMA SO THEY CAN MOVE ON TO COLLEGE AND TO BE MORE EMPLOYABLE. COST PER CLIENT SERVED PER MONTH CALCULATIONS USED IS THE AVERAGE OF TOTAL CLIENTS SERVED PER MONTH DIVIDED BY OUR TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES OF OUR PROGRAM. OUR ANNUAL OPERATIONS BUDGET IS $105,000 AND WE SERVE APPROXIMATELY 1,500 CLIENTS PER MONTH. THE COST PER CLIENT SERVED PER MONTH IS APPROXIMATELY $70.00.