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Right Place At Right Time

Young adults offer classes to children in the University Area.

Photo by LENORA LAKE for the Tribune

Maya Calhoun, 7, and Lisa Mahoney, 24, attend a class on focusing on God’s love, forgiveness and plan of salvation.

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LENORA LAKE

Tribune correspondent

Published: July 1, 2008

UNIVERSITY AREA - The young adults stumbled upon the low-income community west of the University of South Florida and knew they had found the right place for their mission.

The college students and recent graduates are from the National Association for the Prevention of Starvation, a Huntsville, Ala.-based nonprofit organization. The nonprofit's mission is to bring to humanitarian relief and educational support through emergency relief, skilled volunteers and health professionals.

The organization, which started in 1978 and gained nonprofit status in 1993, recently added the United States to its assistance programs. Four years ago, it started the Year of Dedication program, through which young adults take a year off from school to perform community service.

A 12-member team came to Tampa in May and found the University Area on an Internet map site. Its members thought it might be a good area for fundraising, said Charles Penick, 23, one of the team's co-leaders.

However, Penick said, when they drove to the area, they found a low-income neighborhood with a lot of single mothers and young children, high unemployment and transient residents, many of whom have limited English skills.

"But certainly it was a place we could do some work," said Penick, who will start medical school in August.

The team is offering children's programs three times a week on the grounds of the University Area Community Center. The classes include arts and crafts, music and religious instruction. The student volunteers are from Oakwood University, a historically black Seventh-day Adventist school in Huntsville. NAPS' founder is a professor at the university.

A recent children's class had about 24 attendees, from toddlers through preteens of various ethnicities and races, sitting on blue tarps. It focused on God's love, forgiveness and his plan of salvation. Children took turns reading Bible verses, answering questions and praying with the team members.

Team co-leader Lisa Mahoney, 24, said, "Some of the children just need encouragement, motivation and to know they are loved."

The student volunteers also will offer classes this month in the community center that will not have a religious tone but instead focus on character education, making good decisions, health, respect for others and community service, said team member Geneira Poulis, 23.

The type of program offered is dependent upon the community, said Poulis, who will return to school in August.

Each Year of Dedication group begins its mission year, which runs from August to August, with fundraising to do its work. This year, about 75 students from Oakwood are participating, and other teams come from NAPS chapters around the world.

This team's work included a mission trip to the Philippines earlier this year.

"We look to minister people who have been overlooked by society," said Mahoney, who has graduated from Oakwood and will return there in August to work for the university.

Mission work includes feeding the homeless, providing immunizations, teaching courses on health and safety and helping in times of disasters, such as following Hurricane Katrina. The volunteers also bring the message of the Gospel and offer baptisms.

"This is particularly a good opportunity for someone who is seeking a medical career," Mahoney said. "We believe in ministering physically and spiritually."

The group is staying at Westside Community Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1803 E. Shadowlawn Ave., and sleeping on the floor in sleeping bags. It is providing children's activities there and at the First University Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2225 E. 109th Ave., in addition to the University Area Community Center.

Team member Jeffery Pascal, 20, said the team's theme is "Tag. You're It" and the team is training church members to work in the community so the team's work can continue when it leaves Aug. 9. It also is fundraising by going door to door and appealing to churches.

The team has staged a health fair and will offer a free community barbecue from 3:30 to 8 p.m. July 4 at the community center. The Young Empowerment Series for older teens and young adults is planned for July 11 through 25 and the team members hope to add some family activities, Pascal said.

In addition, they will focus on creating a new generation of volunteers, said team co-leader Penick.

"One of our goals is to open the children's eyes to service," he said, adding that the children will help put together care packages with food and toiletries and distribute them.

"Life isn't just about going to church and having a nice life. You have to keep helping and keep uplifting," Penick said.

Luis Cross, 26, who will return to school in August to continue his pursuit of a master's degree in physical education to teach children with disabilities, said working with the children has been the best part of the year.

"They just learn so much," he said. "They catch on quick. We are starting to see how these kids can minister to their families."

Poulis said she feels she has grown emotionally and spiritually during the year and is glad she participated.

"I did it because of my love of God," she said. "You can say it all day, but if you don't get out there and do something for Jesus …"

The work, though, makes her think of her brother, who has made some bad decisions in life and relationships.

"I wish someone had done something like this for him," she said, "but if I can help someone else's brother …"

MAKING CONTACT

For information about the Tampa team of the National Association for the Prevention of Starvation, call (256) 541-6169 or e-mail yod4@napsoc.org. The organization's Web site is www.napsoc.org.

Tribune correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851 or llake@tampatrib.com.

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