If you are looking for an organization which does incredible work for youth and is one of the most fun-filled places to volunteer, City Gate is the group for you. This amazing non-profit was founded in October of 2001 in Washington, DC by Dr. Lynn Bergfalk in order to assist disadvantaged or disenfranchised members of the DC community. The group specifically focuses attention upon assisting children and youth, homelessness and poverty, and immigrant and international populations. In their own words, City Gate's goal is "To help folks on the margins of our society gain access to benefits of the larger community. And, second, to swing that gate both ways, and provide opportunity for those in the mainstream to understand the experience of the marginalized. Swinging the gate both directions recognizes that we all are fellow travelers in the journey of life. Whatever our personal circumstances may be, the blessing of reciprocity will enrich every person as we give and receive from each other." The group assists in numerous ways with afterschool programs, science clubs, summer camps, ESL classes, family literacy programs, and much more.
One such program is The Caterpillar Preschool. This is a multicultural language school for children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 5 years old. Children spend 2, 3 or 5 days a week in either the Spanish or French immersion room where they learn through play to become fluent in a foreign language. The opportunity allows children to become fluent in another language while their brains are developing, giving them a head start from an early age.
City Gate provides grocery assistance, special holiday events, and a clothing closet for families in need at various locations around the District.
Family literacy and adult literacy classes are also provided by the organization. GED Preparatory classes and the Adult Education for Careers provide a space for furthering career opportunities in a safe and healthy environment.
Summer camps and after-school groups allow children to spend time in a safe and nurturing environment filled with educational opportunities and healthy snacks. Tutoring programs and homework help from caring volunteers ensure that children are keeping up with work and are staying at the appropriate grade level while boosting confidence and advancing scores on standardized testing.
Although all of these programs are incredibly beneficial and necessary, my favorite program is the Urban HANDS alternative break program. HANDS, standing for Helping Another in Need by Demonstrating Servitutde, is an incredible program which children from the summer and after-school programs are paired with volunteers for service projects. The programs vary in length from a day to a week and are filled with fun and games for the children, while teaching the importance of volunteer work. In the evenings, children watch movies, eat healthy snacks, and play games. During the day, they are sent to assist with volunteer projects ranging from physical labor projects to working with organizations to fight poverty and homelessness. Ranging in age from about two to ten years of age, the children I worked with spent the evening playing board games and watching the movie Hook only to rise bright and early to take part in a Help the Homeless Walkathon. Teaching these children from a young age the importance of giving and serving others, the program created a great sense of pride for the children and helped to inspire volunteers to set an even greater example for the children they worked with.
City Gate is one of my favorite groups in DC and I highly recommend getting involved in any way you can. From monetary donations to serving the community the way the children in Urban HANDS do, this non-profit does more than help those in need. It reaffirms every reason why one volunteers in the first place. For more information about this group, please visit http://city-gate.org or contact Dr. Bergfalk at 202-237-1799.
