Camp Read Opening

In the summer of 2017, we initiated a new camp called Camp Read at a public library in Boise, Idaho. Children who came into our rented room got help with reading skills and got a bag of books to take home.

We had collected over one hundred books and had extra too. In the picture – Lisa Bethel, director of camp, gives books to librarian who will get them to two elementary schools who need them. These schools have many refugee families.

Pamela Doyle, Lisa and I had met early in the summer to plan this camp. Camp Read has much potential for Idaho and beyond.

Right: Lisa Bethel giving a book to a librarian.

New Tutoring Program in Nampa

This one meeting in Nampa helped jump start a tutoring program at Ronald Reagan which is led by Angie Daniels center of picture. To her left Pamela Doyle who is district school psychologist. She has been key to work starting in this city which has a serious gang problem.

Left: Joyce Dueker, Pamela Doyle, Angie Daniels

It is important to take a tiny step in the direction you feel has a need for action. I had also visited Reagan school and seen the need for help.

In this era of instant communication, we must not forget the importance of getting to see the area and listen to people who are there. And of most importance to shape the program around the needs of the children we serve.

In the case of Nampa, we are promoting the most "at risk" children staying in school through the free tutoring by our volunteer team.

Never underestimate what one tiny 

step of a person in a meeting 

can do to change your city.

Helen Little – Volunteer Tutor

This spring Helen Little came to be trained as a volunteer tutor in an elementary school. She then got on the job training under Angie Daniels who has an organised program helping 9 of the most needy kids.

Helen enjoyed volunteering and I was happy, to my surprise she let me know that she and husband, John, we're moving to northern Idaho to the Clearwater Valley area. Would I train them both to start tutoring there?

We had a focused session. John has a job coaching in a junior high and loves to do sports. With joy and thanksgiving they are being sent to bless the children up there where 70 percent of families live on food stamps.

Education Improvements in Idaho

Welcome to Idaho where education ranks very low relative to other states in the U.S.

We are in our third year of work here where two tutoring programs have opened in Nampa, a city with increasing drug and gang problems.

The child in this picture is Roberto who is in sixth grade. Today he has been helping his dad, who is a gardener and who works very hard to support his wife and 3 children. I had a chance to encourage Roberto to stay in school and to stay away from drugs. Roberto listened to every word, and his dad nodded in agreement.

On the other end of the scale, last week I talked to a heart broken teen here who had just lost another friend due to a drug overdose. He said that 16 of his friends have been caught in drug addictions. My heart was very heavy for him, and I felt determined to work even harder for the Midwest.

Keep us in your prayers.
Joyce Dueker, Expansion Director