As a part of National Volunteer Week*, Governor Roy Cooper visited Enka Middle School to check out Homework Diners.
Check out this video from the Governor's Facebook shoutout:
WLOS News 13 also came to see out action.
Click here to see the slideshow from the Asheville Citizen Times
ENKA, N.C. (WLOS) — Gov. Roy Cooper visited students and parents at Enka Middle School on Tuesday. The visit was part of his efforts to bring attention to National Volunteer Week.
The middle school offers free tutoring and dinner weekly through a partnership with the United Way, Green Opportunities, the county, the school district and Asheville-Buncombe Middle Grades Network. The program is called Homework Diner.
Seventh-grader Eli Dougherty has been attending the program with his parents since early in the school year. They were one of several families who got to sit down with the governor Tuesday evening. Dougherty's mother Traci Wallace appreciates the extra help.
"I don't have to spend time trying to make the meal and help with homework," said Wallace. "And some of the homework questions I don't understand, they can help him."
Dougherty hopes to become an engineer when he grows up. He does his homework alongside his mother, who is studying at UNC Asheville to get her teaching license.
Cooper spoke to Wallace about the investment he would like to see in teachers. He hopes the Homework Diner program can be launched across the state. Right now, it is offered at Enka, Asheville and Erwin middle schools. Organizers hope to start it at Owen Middle School next school year.
"You know, I'm dealing with a super-majority Republican legislature," said Cooper. "We've been talking about investment in education and teacher salaries for one thing. A number of Republicans have said where they can do better with teacher salaries and my answer to that is great. It doesn't matter who gets credit, as long as we get the job done."
On Monday, the governor helped deliver meals to seniors who are served by Meals on Wheels. Later this week, he will be helping Habitat for Humanity with homes impacted by Hurricane Matthew.
*National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognize and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and support to causes they care about in their community. Their stories can serve to inspire others to find ways to take action that creates change. National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 and has grown exponentially each year, with thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week.
Join us at Homework Diners: as a student, teacher, parent, or volunteer
Families
There are just two weeks left to attend Homework Diners this school year! If you live in the Asheville, Enka, or Erwin Middle School districts, and have a student in K-12, check out the schedule to the left and join us. Homework Diners start at 5:30 p.m.
Volunteers
We rely on volunteer power to help carry out these events as there are many moving parts to make it happen. The volunteer positions available are:
- Set-up/Registration/Welcome (4:30-6:15pm) – these volunteers will help with setup, registration and checking families in.
- Food Support (5:15-7:15pm)– these volunteers will help to serve the meals to the families. This will include serving and clean up afterwards.
- Tutoring Support (5:15p-7p) – these volunteers will float around and work with students and their families to help them understand and complete their homework.
Click here to volunteer!
