NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE COUNCIL
Expanding kids' horizons!
What is NSC?
Neighborhood Service Council is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to rescuing
at-risk kids who live in the apartment district east of Coit Road in Dallas, near its intersection
with Spring Valley Road. This area is populated by working people (no one is on welfare), but
incomes are low. It is a multi-cultural area—over 62 languages spoken--there is much poverty—85%
of the children in the schools qualify for the free lunch program—and there is a high crime rate in
the area. All agree that unsupervised children are at risk there.
The core programs of Neighborhood Service Council are Adventure Time After-School Camp during the
winter and My Time Teen Camp in the summer. These are free or low cost programs for families unable
to afford regular child care. For instance, during the school year the Neighborhood Service Council
van (provided by Ronald McDonald Foundation) picks up the kids at their schools and brings them to the
nearby Spring Valley United Methodist Church, which graciously allows Neighborhood Service Council to
use its facilities during the week. There they have an assortment of fun and learning activities.
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What do Pat and Oliver do at Neighborhood Service Council?
On Tuesdays, Oliver drives the van to pick up the children at their schools
and then joins the group of volunteer Tuesday tutors. Pat also tutors the
children on Tuesdays.
Then from time to time Pat shows the kids how to make interesting things.
The other day each one made a
Cool Tie, worn around the neck like a bandanna
to keep you cool. It looks like a strand of four big sausages. Each “link”
is stuffed with a water absorbing gel that releases its water so slowly that
it stays cool for a long time.
Oliver has been a member of the Board of Directors of Neighborhood Service
Council since its birth and for several years has been in charge of
Financial Development.
Helping Kids Succeed
One of the most important is Bringing Up Grades. We require that every child do his homework,
and provide volunteer tutors to help where help is needed. The result is that our slogan, Expanding Kids’ Horizons,
has been borne out over and over in the lives of children who have gone on to success in college and meaningful
occupations. One became an Eagle Scout, went through the University of Texas on a music scholarship, and is now
teaching music in a local high school.
Besides its core school programs, Neighborhood Service Council has initiated and brought to fruition needed services
and events through collaboration with other agencies. Neighborhood Service Council worked with Dallas Parks and
Recreation, and with companies like Snickers, to create and sustain the first ever soccer league in the apartment
district. Working with Richland College, Neighborhood Service Council made English as a Second Language classes
available near the area, where previously those wishing to learn English had to travel five miles for instruction.
Neighborhood Service Council transports the young people in its My Time Teen summer day camp program to Fretz Park,
Churchill Park, and Campbell Green recreation centers of the Dallas Parks and Recreation department, where they are
able to use the gymnasiums, swimming pools and tennis courts.
Working With The Community
One community success story that Neighborhood Service Council began, and continues to sustain,
is Cottonwood Park, on Cottonwood Creek that runs through the heart of the apartment district. Ten years ago the
creek was full of junk and its banks were full of junkies. There were no play facilities available. Neighborhood
Service Council mobilized the community--Dallas Parks and Recreation, Texas Instruments, local churches, and local
residents—to clean up and improve the park. Today there are soccer fields with goals, a basketball goal, play equipment for
little children, and s shelter complete with water fountain. The creek runs free and clear and the junk is gone.
exas Instruments installed a Nature Trail along the creek and has since then assumed responsibility for an annual
Cottonwood Park Cleanup Day.
Another annual event that many participate in is Earth Day, another event that Neighborhood Service Council initiated.
The Dallas Fire Department and Police Department bring out fire engines and police cars for the kids to climb over and
horses for them to admire. The Dallas Public Library brings a Bookmobile. Local companies such as Air Products and
Texas Instruments put on demonstrations. Environmental groups give demonstrations also. There are games, prizes and
free hot dogs for the hundreds of school children who along with their teaches are bussed from the local schools.
Neighborhood Service Council is proud of what it has already done and is looking forward to serving more schools.
It also is working with the community on a Star Builders program, designed to encourage children to excel in math
and science. It will continue to Expand Kids’ Horizons in the future!
>MORE INFORMATION<
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