Renaissance Reading uses Accelerated Reader books. Each student chooses books to read based on his or her reading level and takes a quiz that measures reading comprehension when the book is completed. With such an intensive reading program, teachers need to keep books on hand in their classrooms to meet the demands of eager students. Many students will read and take a test on one or even two books a day.

Last month at New Hope's Christmas Breakfast, Principal Tom Benton and Director Reverend Stephen Carpenter gratefully accepted Memphis HUD's contributions from HUD staffers Bwendolyn Scott and Joseph Thomas (left). Mr. Benton expressed thanks for the generosity of the HUD staff, and recalled how much the children enjoyed and appreciated their visit to the HUD Office during Black History Month.

The outreach to New Hope was overseen by HUD Area Coordinator Yvonne Leander and Memphis TARC Director Catherine Lamberg. The New Hope Christian Academy, with 124 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, is located across the street from the HUD Office in downtown Memphis, and Memphis HUD employees have adopted the school. They are making plans to serve as tutors in the after-school program, read books to first graders, and even assist the school's staff when appropriate. The HUD staff also have begun to collect loose change to donate to the school at the end of 2002.

PIH staffer Jennifer Charles has coordinated the Toys for Tots outreach for the past four years, and said that "our co-workers came through this year better than ever before." In the best spirit of the season, additional contributions from Indianapolis HUD employees also purchased jars of peanut butter and jelly which were donated to the Horizon House Homeless Day Center, and clothing and toys for the Dayspring Center, a local family homeless shelter. On behalf of the office, these much appreciated items were delivered by Mary Ellen Burke (FPM) and John Dorgan (CPD).