Across Appalachia, students are returning to school this month, many to classrooms where the day’s lessons will end without the extra academic help and encouragement they need at home.
Thanks to the generosity of Americans Helping Americans® supporters, we are able to provide crucial grant funding to partners in West Virginia and Georgia so they can operate afterschool programs that give dozens of children the resources, attention, and care they need to thrive.
“We love our afterschool kids and see them four days a week,” says Dyanne Spriggs, executive director of our longtime partner in McDowell County, West Virginia, Big Creek People in Action (BCPIA). BCPIA’s program serves 25–35 elementary school students from 15–22 households each year.
The program offers one-on-one academic help, engaging enrichment activities, field trips, and special summer projects. “There are four teachers who work with the students each day, and parents have reported improvements in their children’s grades,” Dyanne shares.
And it’s more than homework help—students also receive a full, nutritious meal and snack, computer access, transportation, and personal guidance.
With $23,000 in grant funding from Americans Helping Americans® for the 2025–2026 academic year, BCPIA will be able to:
- Provide daily meals and snacks
- Purchase books and educational supplies
- Offer safe transportation to and from the program
- Support staff salaries so the program can continue running year-round
McDowell County is a place of breathtaking mountains and deep cultural heritage—but also persistent poverty. The statistics are sobering:
- 78% of 4th graders are not proficient in reading
- 89% of 8th graders are not proficient in math
- 16% of families have a head of household without a high school diploma
- 39% of children live in poverty
Founded in 2011, BCPIA’s afterschool program is the only year-round program of its kind in the area. There are no eligibility requirements, and there is never a cost to attend.
In Gainesville, Georgia
Americans Helping Americans® is also providing $6,300 in grant funding to LAMP Ministries to support their afterschool program, which is expected to serve 190 students in grades one through five from 100–130 households this year.
“This program reaches young students during their most formative years—building the skills and strengths they need to succeed in school and in life,” says LAMP executive director Mary Mauricio.
Children at LAMP receive homework help, a healthy snack, time to relax, creative outlets like arts and crafts, and plenty of encouragement and structure.
Funding will cover:
- Program supplies
- Food and snacks
- School supplies for tutoring
- Transportation for children without other options
- Basic necessities for those in need
Many of the students come from homes below the poverty line—most from single-parent families. Some are being raised by relatives because their parents have been deported or are incarcerated. For many parents, English is a second language, and some are unable to help with homework.
Mary notes that the afterschool program often serves as a bridge, introducing families to other LAMP services, including the Americans Helping Americans® BareFeet program, which provides new shoes to children in need.
The Bigger Picture
“Programs like ours are vital,” says Dyanne. “We may not be able to reach every child, but we see real evidence that we are making a difference in many of their lives.”
The challenges are real—poverty, low literacy rates, a struggling school system, and the growing impact of prescription drug abuse. Yet with the continued support of Americans Helping Americans® supporters, these afterschool programs can give children the tools, hope, and confidence they need to build brighter futures.
