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| By Sarah M. Corigliano Assistant Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD For Ricardo Rivera, giving back to his community comes naturally. The recent Commerce High School graduate just finished his summer job as a camp counselor at The Gray House in Springfield's North End where he was once a camper himself. "Most kids my age would be ashamed of working at a place like that," Rivera said. "They think it's not cool [to work with kids], but it's not true [the program is] making a difference with kids." Rivera worked at The Gray House through its Kids Club program, guiding children through summer activities and being a role model for them, both scholastically and socially. He also recently received several scholarships, including one from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, and will attend The Elms College this fall, majoring in business and law. Gray House Executive Director Eileen Hurley explained the Kids Club "is a chance for kids to try different things." Ski trips, beach outings and going to the theater and sports games are all part of the Kids Club's year-round programming. There is also an after school program to keep kids focused on their education. "It lets them know there's a world beyond the neighborhood," she said. "It gives them the ability to dream and hope." Hurley said, due to the transient nature of the neighborhood, she's not always sure what happens to children who benefit from the programs at The Gray House, which also provides adult education, emergency food and clothing supplies and more for families in the neighborhood that has been named the poorest in the state. However, last winter an unannounced visitor to The Gray House turned out to be a young man who had attended Kids Club when he was a child and, eight years later, wanted to give something back. "His Christmas dream was to buy toys and give them to the Gray House," Hurley said. She said most of the clients of the services offered at The Gray House are working poor families just trying to get by on minimum wage. To help those families, the Gray House focuses on immediate needs, like food and clothing, and more long-term needs, like adult education. This time of year, she said the Gray House is actively seeking donations of fall and winter clothing and shoes, especially clothing for men, and food donations. The Gray House also accepts donations of small household appliances or furniture because many families, after staying in a homeless shelter, merely need some basics to help make a home for their families. A few things that are most needed are bedroom bureaus, pots and pans and dishes. Hurley's "dire need" list includes blankets, men's shoes, bureaus, school supplies, curtains and towels. The Gray House's mission is "To encourage our neighbors in transition to achieve a more stable, safe, productive, and spiritually satisfying life through education and community service." The Gray House is a private, non-profit organization. It was founded in 1982 by five Sisters of Saint Joseph who purchased the Victorian house on Sheldon Street with the mandate: "The Gray House is a place where peace is lived and learned and hope is shared." For more information about the Gray House or to arrange to drop off a donation, call 734-6696 or e-mail casagris@aol.com. The Gray House's web site is www.grayhouse.org. |