Grants, donations help with costs of mentoring

STUDENTS AT THE COMMUNITY Learning Center benefit from attentive mentors. Below, students explore the library. Above, students fnish school homework first. Newsboy photos/Sharon Kerr

Walter Diggles, executive director of DETCOG (Deep East Texas Council of Governments), says the greatest need many of the mentoring programs have is for more volunteers, particularly male volunteers.

Many donations and grants support the mentoring efforts in the DETCOG 12-county region.

A federal grant covers mentoring children of a parent who is incarcerated. Programs match the children with adults who spend at least one hour a week providing a positive role model.

The 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) in Jasper is funded by donations from the New Lighthouse COGIC Ministries, the Walter Diggles Foundation, the Deep East Texas Foundation (and SSBG

grants), and private donations from many prominent citizens, churches, the American Red Cross and others.

The 21st CCLC itself "is one of the components of the nochild left behind program sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Education," Diggles explained. "This program is not yet funded by the U.S. Dept. of Education, but we hope to be able to qualify as we continue to work with local school officials in JISD to target at-risk youth."

Diggles said the program needs more volunteers to assist with homedelivered meals, tutoring, mentoring, and other activities.

Volunteers can apply by calling Moniques Settler, Mary Carter or Anita Diggles at 383- 0334.

Contributions can be sent to DET Foundation, 1013 Helen Street, Jasper.