MONROE - The people in Calhoun City, Miss., have a thirst for knowledge, according to Jan Kash, Monroe.
She visited the city three years ago to tutor students and plans to go back again in July.
The community of about 2,000 people is located in the northern part of the state. It's not a wealthy area but there is an emphasis by local people to improve their schools and their children's' chances for an education.
In 1995, a learning academy started to help elementary school students who were falling through the cracks, Kash said. The community program provided mentors and tutors for the students to help them with their math, English and language skills.
After she learned about the school, Kash, a nursing instructor at Blackhawk Technical College, decided she wanted to help.
In May 2006, she took some time off work to visit the school and offer her assistance.
She just told her husband, Al, that she was going to Mississippi to help at the school, she recalled.
"I packed the car and left," she smiled.
She did a little bit of everything her first time at the school, she said. She tutored some students and she scraped paint. Anything that needed to be done, Kash did, she said.
The volunteers worked late into the night but it didn't matter. The did it to help the children, Kash said.
She was taken aback by what she saw. There were 60 students in one trailer, all of them studying and trying to learn.
"They had one computer," she recalled.
But the school also had people who wanted to help.
Through donations the school continued to provide extra help for students. The school added more students from other grades aside from elementary school to its enrollment. It also moved out of the trailer and into a downtown building, Kash said.
Kash and her husband plan to go to Mississippi July 11 to spend a week at the school. They also plan to take supplies such as pencils, notebook paper, crayons, colored pencils and folders.
Jan will tutor students and Al will help work on the building, she said.
They've collected some school supplies already. The Monroe Optimist Club and Knights of Columbus donated encyclopedias, computers and other basic supplies.
She hopes people will donate more supplies for the school. The items can be new or slightly used, Kash said.
Kash has collection boxes at Woodford State Bank, St. Victor Parish Center and St. Victor Catholic Church. Anyone who wishes to donate money for school supplies can bring a check to Woodford State Bank. The check should be made out to EXCEL Program in Calhoun City, Miss.
More information about the program, or to donate is available at 325-1077.
She visited the city three years ago to tutor students and plans to go back again in July.
The community of about 2,000 people is located in the northern part of the state. It's not a wealthy area but there is an emphasis by local people to improve their schools and their children's' chances for an education.
In 1995, a learning academy started to help elementary school students who were falling through the cracks, Kash said. The community program provided mentors and tutors for the students to help them with their math, English and language skills.
After she learned about the school, Kash, a nursing instructor at Blackhawk Technical College, decided she wanted to help.
In May 2006, she took some time off work to visit the school and offer her assistance.
She just told her husband, Al, that she was going to Mississippi to help at the school, she recalled.
"I packed the car and left," she smiled.
She did a little bit of everything her first time at the school, she said. She tutored some students and she scraped paint. Anything that needed to be done, Kash did, she said.
The volunteers worked late into the night but it didn't matter. The did it to help the children, Kash said.
She was taken aback by what she saw. There were 60 students in one trailer, all of them studying and trying to learn.
"They had one computer," she recalled.
But the school also had people who wanted to help.
Through donations the school continued to provide extra help for students. The school added more students from other grades aside from elementary school to its enrollment. It also moved out of the trailer and into a downtown building, Kash said.
Kash and her husband plan to go to Mississippi July 11 to spend a week at the school. They also plan to take supplies such as pencils, notebook paper, crayons, colored pencils and folders.
Jan will tutor students and Al will help work on the building, she said.
They've collected some school supplies already. The Monroe Optimist Club and Knights of Columbus donated encyclopedias, computers and other basic supplies.
She hopes people will donate more supplies for the school. The items can be new or slightly used, Kash said.
Kash has collection boxes at Woodford State Bank, St. Victor Parish Center and St. Victor Catholic Church. Anyone who wishes to donate money for school supplies can bring a check to Woodford State Bank. The check should be made out to EXCEL Program in Calhoun City, Miss.
More information about the program, or to donate is available at 325-1077.