Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Background .....

Article in The Daily Times/2003: Community Center is a Fruitland gem

By Mary Bargion, Daily Times Staff Writer

Fruitland Community Center, a free after-school tutorial program for at-risk kids, is itself at risk this year. The program was started in 1985 by Mary B. Pinkett and Mary Gladys Jones, both of Salisbury, who were retiring from long careers in teaching on the Lower Shore. Over the years, the center has nurtured hundreds of children who learned their multiplication tables and had their self-esteem raised.Inside, the walls are painted a cheerful shade of yellow. There’s an elevated platform for performances and a reading area. Jones has a classroom with seats dutifully arranged in front of a large blackboard, and one room in the building is devoted to computers.

A separate room holds a computer lab that was donated by the Wicomico Rotary Club, one of many civic organizations that have contributed funds and resources.


When one steps through the doors at Fruitland Community Center, one is expected to behave and observe the rules. Jones keeps track of every student by name, interests and personality quirks. She visits the child’s school to see how a particular subject is being taught and will visit the child’s home as well.

“I check their homework and help them with whatever they need,” said Jones. The kids appreciate the extra attention and seem to thrive on extras, things such as poetry, art, music and current events that are equally important to a well-rounded individual.

“They tell us about what’s in the news,” said Tishauna Dupont, 13, a seventh-grader at Bennett Middle School, who is hopeful the center will reopen as soon as possible.

“We learned how to introduce ourselves,” added Jones, “and how to address a business letter.”

Alexis Dashield of Fruitland, whose two now-grown sons went to the center when they were young, has been helping for 17 years. She works hand-in-glove with Jones. Both have won Outstanding Citizen of the Year awards from the city of Fruitland.

The two instruct, motivate and dispense hugs. Jones brings prizes and trivia-style quizzes to her classes. Students, who range in age from 5 to 15, get to choose from a box of surprises that may be a book, toys, small gifts and occasionally, an envelope with money.

“It’s meant a lot to me because I knew both of these ladies at my church, (Mount Calvary Church in Fruitland),” said Latessia Powell, 22, of Hampton, Va. She went to the after-school program for some of her elementary school years and said it helped her greatly.

“I needed more help than the other children,” she said. “Especially with reading, I had a problem with the words bunching up on the page, and the extra attention I got helped me.”

The center makes sure kids get all the help they need.

“They took their time with us,” said Powell. Now 22, she is married and is a certified nursing aide in Virginia. Powell said she thought spending time with older and younger kids was a good idea, and she still keeps in touch with friends she made during those years.

“It gave her someplace to go,” said Powell’s grandmother, Marilyn Leatherbury of Fruitland. Leatherbury raised Powell from the time she was a little girl. “I can’t say enough for the program. I tell you, it’s a wonderful, wonderful thing they are doing. Don’t take it away. I hope the center stays, it’s a beautiful thing to have in the community and a blessing for the children.”

The center also operates a summer program that this year included field trips to the Smithsonian’s Air & Space Museum and the Salisbury Zoo. At the end of the summer, kids participated in a closing program, where they were recognized for attendance and community service hours.

“Many times these children do not receive recognition for extracurricular activities in school,” said Dashield. “It’s so important to let each child know he or she is important. If a child feels special, they are more likely to excel, and we’re here to develop their individual talents. We celebrate their gifts.”

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Update: November 2011
 A special thanks to everyone who donoted to the Fruitaland Community Center because of the above article and persons and organizations  that continue to support the  FCC Ivy AKAdemy, Girl Scouts , Boy Scouts, Summer Camp and meals programs.  Photo: June 2011, Frutland Community Center received a check for $2500.00 from The Children's Fund Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. The fund was started by Greg and Patricia Stein. (Photo -left to right-)
 Mary Gladys Jones-founder/director, Spicer Bell,president Community Foundation, Greg Stein, Children's fund and Alexis Dashield - FCC President.