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Unfortunately income is a big predictor of how well children are going to do in school.
So at Mercy Housing, kids have access to after school and summer programming that helps them
close the gap with their peers and succeed in school. Through Mercy's homework club,
we provide a safe place for children to do their homework, play with their peers and
have someone in their neighborhood they can rely on. Homework club is proven to be successful
in a number of ways. Children improve their reading skills, they're more engaged in class
and their report cards reflect that. Our staff make a connection with teachers and with school
volunteers so that students feel supported and stay actively engaged in their classes.
When school is out, we offer summer lunch programming. This provides five nutritious meals a week
so when families are struggling to make ends meet, this kind of program ensures that students
get a nutritious meal. The important thing about out-of-school time is to provide children
with a safe place to go after school where they can be themselves and be excited about learning.