Heart. Soul. Purpose
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Heart. Soul . Purpose. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT I love my job. It’s my calling – what I was meant We don’t serve because we expect anything in to do – and I wouldn’t be anywhere else. Still, as return, but it always happens – we set out to en- with any work, there is stress: when we seem to courage others and our spirits are lifted. A con- run up against barrier after barrier, when rela- fident smile on a child wearing a proper uniform tionships falter, when the goals feel too big and who sees herself in a new light; a dance in his – we set out to the need too great. On these days, I get in my step in shoes that fit; a book held closely to the car and head to one of our partner schools, hug heart by its proud owner; wonder in eyes seeing the necks of the dedicated staff members, work the world clearly for the first time through new alongside our incredible volunteers and kneel eyeglasses…there is nothing more enriching to encourage others and beside a sweet young girl or boy as she whispers the soul. It’s in these moments that we know her dreams to me or he beams with pride over why we are here. his new pair of shoes. I am recharged, filled with hope again and ready to take on mountains so Our work with impoverished students in St. Louis our spirits are lifted. that we can be there for every child who needs us. city and North County also is a constant remind- er of how very blessed we are. Occasional stress go without. Sunny’s Closet and The Sunshine Box is no comparison to the challenges and crises are two parts of a “circle of care” we have de- some of our children face on a daily basis, the veloped to cover the fundamental needs of the cumulative effect researchers now refer to as whole child – head to toe, heart and soul – so dear friend of little bit “toxic stress,” which can impact a child’s health that education can be the primary focus of the and welfare for years to come. We can’t break student and school community. down barriers to learning without acknowledg- ing the emotional factors that may drive a stu- In this annual report, you’ll see a snapshot of dent to distraction and lead to behavioral issues. our programs and services delivered throughout That’s why in the last school year we piloted a the year to 5,000 students in 17 area schools, as new behavioral health program, The Sunshine well as recognition of our extraordinary donors Box, at two schools, providing some 900 hours and partners, who have allowed us to take on of psycho educational workshops and therapy 1,000 additional students in three new schools intervention to elementary age students. With this coming fall, including our first in the River- appropriate funding, we hope to expand The view Gardens School District. I hope that what Sunshine Box in our schools, many of which are also comes through in the words and images are not equipped to handle mental health, through the connections of the heart that the people of a collaborative with local, nonprofit behavioral The Little Bit Foundation have created with each health providers. other, with the unsung educators in our poor- est communities, with the beautiful children we Collaborations have become an integral part of serve…and the inescapable nourishment of the our strategy and, when done right, are a win all soul that results from touching a life. around. Through our integrated delivery model within the walls of St. Louis schools, we en- From my heart, thank you, able other providers to expand their reach with student populations, and through their areas of expertise, we provide students access to services they might never have. For example, in our third Rosemary Hanley year implementing Sunny’s Closet in cooperation Executive Director & Co-Founder with Operation Food Search, we provided nearly 30,000 meals to students who would otherwise An Angel at Their Side Overwhelmed. It’s a feeling that is visible on the been murdered, yet they showed up at school a house fire. A formal partnership was reached constantly. As a result, 98% of them are entering face of Sonya Murray when she speaks about her the next day, I believe, because they feel safe and and the organization began weekly visits to first grade reading at grade level – a first for the days as principal of Confluence Academy-Old supported here.” Confluence that fall. school – according to the school’s most recent North both before and after her school’s part- DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy nership with Little Bit began. Only now her tears Still, before The Little Bit Foundation, Dr. Since then, the school has experienced marked Skills) assessment. “We had to test them twice; are full of joy and thankfulness. Murray says this safe haven struggled to address improvement in student attendance, perfor- we couldn’t believe it!” says Dr. Murray. And, she the countless needs of students so that learning mance and engagement. “Our students are typi- says, the school’s Missouri annual performance Located in historic Old North St. Louis, could take place. “Many of the students had cal, happy and energetic kids, but many of them rating increased from 75% in 2013 to 82.9% in Confluence Academy, a public charter school, is never seen a dentist; they needed eyeglasses; carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. 2014, “thanks to Little Bit’s incredible support the academic home of 850 Kindergarten through their shoes were too tight; they’d come to school I have seen students smiling who never did and my amazing teachers.” 8th grade students. As the neighborhood under- hungry. My staff and I would purchase clean before. I have seen students take leadership goes a long-term restoration project, it contin- clothes, coats, school supplies – anything that responsibilities who never did before,” says Next on Dr. Murray’s wish list is mental health ues to deal with extreme poverty. According to was keeping a student from coming to school or Dr. Murray. intervention for the myriad of emotional needs recent data, 37% of children located within Old focusing in class – but it was all becoming too she sees, which Little Bit is working to fulfill soon North are living below the federal poverty level. much. That’s where an angel found us…at the In the past two years, Confluence students have in cooperation with the University of Missouri, a Dr. Murray, an educator of 18 years, describes end of our rope.” been provided thousands of uniforms, books Confluence Charter Schools sponsor. “I remind her school as “urban in every way,” with 98% and meals; every student who needs a coat or my students daily that they are greater than the of students in the free and reduced lunch It was the winter of 2013 when Dr. Murray was pair of shoes has received one; health screen- situations they face,” she says. “Little Bit has program, 68 of her families living on the streets introduced to Little Bit. After two meetings, ings and eye exams have been performed by met every need head on and allowed us to reach and violence touching her student population the Little Bit team arrived at the school, “on clinical professionals who fitted 30 students with greater heights…our students are so lucky.” nearly every week. “One week during this past probably the coldest day of the year,” says Dr. eyeglasses, and Little Bit volunteers have been a school year, every situation in the local news Murray, armed with hats and gloves for all 850 steady, caring presence. The Kindergarten class had a direct impact on my students,” she says. students and emergency food kits for a family has taken full advantage of the Little Bit Books “I had students whose mother or father had of five children that had just been displaced by and Buddies program, reading to their “buddies” Programs supporting COMFORT, DIGNITY & SELF-ESTEEM HEAD TO TOE BUNDLE UP BUSY BODIES Provides new shoes, socks Safeguards students from Instructs students in proper hygiene and underwear; proper school the cold with heavy coats, and provides personal care items, uniforms and emergency clothing hats, gloves and scarves such as soap, washcloths and lotion* * Delta Dental Health Theatre provides interactive dental health education and a dental starter kit with toothbrush and toothpaste for each student Our programs, services and one-on-one student interactions are designed to nourish every area of childhood development – physical, emotional and mental – Feeding Souls and provide a consistent, caring presence in lives of perpetual need and change. Programs supporting Programs supporting HEALTH & WELLBEING LITERACY & CLASSROOM READINESS HEALTHY KIDS, SUNNY’S CLOSET BETTER LEARNERS EYES ON LEARNING THE SUNSHINE BOX 1-2-3 READ! BOOKS & BUDDIES STEM GET IN GEAR Through an affiliation Screens students for Delivers comprehensive Supports mental Hosts one book fair each Pairs beginner books Promotes interest in Equips students with Operation Food medical, dental or vision exams and health through psycho- semester at every school, with “buddies” for STEM studies through with backpacks Search, provides vision concerns and fits students with educational classes during which students can Pre-K through 2nd distribution of STEM- filled with essential emergency food kits delivers wellness eyeglasses on site and group workshops, select two age appropriate grade students to bring focused books and hands- school supplies for students with an education, in therapy intervention books to add to or start a a level of comfort for on demonstrations by the immediate need for food cooperation with the and training for school personal book collection early readers Saint Louis Science Center after the school day Institute for Family personnel in identifying Medicine students in crisis One out of every six individuals A child born in the Jeff-Vander-Lou 173,000 children in the greater St.