GMVCC Children & Family Programs strives to reach out to all areas of our community by offering special programs for low-income and at-risk children.
For program information email Cindy or call 425-432-1272.
Peanut ButterJelly & Books
Summer lunch and reading program
Studies show that adequate nutrition is necessary for learning, and children who are encouraged to read during the summer better sustain their academic level from one grade to the next. Designed to promote reading, reduce isolation and supplement nutrition for low-income, school-aged children, our 8-week PBJ & Books summer program features free books, crafts, safety presentations, performers, as well as free lunches and snacks.
At each PBJ & Books session, a nutritious lunch is served and snacks are provided in collaboration with the Maple Valley Food Bank. Once fed, the children participate in fun, reading-related activities. Each child is given several books each week to keep as their own; and in partnership with the King County Library, all children have the opportunity to check out library books on-site through the King County ABC Express Bookmobile. Volunteers from local elementary schools offer tutoring; businesses, civic organizations, and individual volunteers from the community at large donate time, supplies, books and funding.
For more information or if you would like to donate books or volunteer your time to help make summer vacation special for a child, please contact Cindy or call 425-432-1272.
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Peanut Butter Jelly & Books is funded by generous support from the Cooper Levy Foundation, Harrington-Schiff Foundation, Catherine Holmes Wilkins Foundation, Puget Sound Energy, Target Stores, Windermere Foundation, Kiwanis Club, Frankie's Pizza, Maple Valley Food Bank, and the King County Library. Thank you also to Cyndi Soup, Tim Noah, and Molly Hashimoto for so generously sharing their time and talents with our PBJ & Books children and families.
Shop with a Cop
A very special Christmas
Shop with a Cop benefits children from the Greater Maple Valley area. In addition to providing a joyful holiday for children who need support, the program also builds positive relationships between police officers and the children of the community. View the KOMO News story about our 2009 Shop with a Cop.
On a Saturday in early December, officers from local police and sheriff departments take the children shopping. Often a child will buy presents for everyone in the family and need be encouraged by the officer to purchase a present of their own. It is a very positive experience not only for the kids involved, but also for the officers.
Children are recommended for participation in the program by police and sheriff department members, school employees, and social agencies. The child must be a resident of the area and not have participated in the past. If you would like to donate your time or money to help make Christmas special for a child, or would like to nominate a child, please contact Cindy or call 425-432-1272.
Shop with a Cop is a sponsored by the Maple Valley Black Diamond Rotary Club in collaboration with GMVCC, the Tahoma School District and other community partners.
Bike Helmet Safety
Head smart
Bicycles are more than a toy. They are associated with more childhood injuries than any consumer product except the automobile. A child's risk of injury and death can be greatly reduced by simply by setting some limits. A single rule – wear a helmet – can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent.
The GMVCC Bike Helmet program offers free bike helmets and bicycle safety information. For program information email Cindy or call 425-432-1272.