By Mary Lackie

It isn’t just the story-telling, singing, finger painting and field trips for children at the Eastside Community Center pre-school classes that draw volunteers. It is what the volunteers have learned from the children.

“The first thing that impressed me about the children is that they need affection. Their parents are probably so worn out when they get home that they can’t make the effort to give individual attention to their children,” said Mrs. Becky Barbour.

Mrs. Alyce Redman, Mrs. Mary Sauerburger, and Mrs. Agnes Cassidy are among volunteers who visit homes in the neighborhood. Mrs. Cassidy, a member of an Immaculate Heart of Mary circle, which works in the inner city, said, “Two of us -- white women and strangers -- visited one home. The mother invited us in and was so friendly. Some of the mothers find time to work with their children.”

One volunteer said, “I would like to know who owns these homes. Some have no heat, broken gas pipes, and the people have to pay $30 a month rent or they are evicted. On Christmas Eve, I came down to visit one home, and found ice all over the sidewalk. The water pipe had broken, and was unrepaired. If you visit the homes, you can see the injustice of high rents and poor housing.”

Another volunteer added, “I went to a grocery store near here one day for some supplies, and the prices are ridiculous - for a bunch of rotten bananas. The food was the worst quality and the store was owned by a white person.” Mrs. Sauerburger said, “I have been coming here for three months, and when I go home and tell my children stories that have happened here, they can’t believe there are children so poor they don’t even have dishes to eat from.”

“I think it’s good to tell your children about your experiences, but if they know you are working here, it is even better. You can show pictures of the Grand Canyon, but it isn’t the same as seeing it,” said Mrs. Barbara Lauckhart, whose daughter, Jennifer, 4, accompanies her mother when she works at the center.

Another mother-daughter combination participating in work at the center are Mrs. Lou Perritt, First Presbyterian Church, and her one-and-a-half year old daughter, Shandra. Mrs. Perritt said, “Before I volunteered, I talked it over with my husband. He was instrumental in helping me. He knew it would affect the housework, and that I would be bringing our daughter with me. It is one of the prime reasons, and a selfish one, to come down here, so that our daughter’s relationships with the children will carry over into her life. Since she started at the age of one, she now responds quickly to the children, and is delighted when they rush up to take her hand.”

“The children at the center don’t notice a difference in color,” Mrs. Loretta Webb said, “I’ve been asked if there isn’t something better I could be doing with my time, but I enjoy this. For example, just this morning, I was asked by one of the children if the new child in the program was my child.”

Mrs. Carol Martin said, “We have six children, and took two children from the St. Joseph tutorial program with us when we visited the zoo. Our children would like to do that again. They had a good time.”

The field trips and programs have improved the children’s attention span so that they will be prepared for school, the volunteers said. Many of them are trying to improve the economic conditions of the families.

Members of the Immaculate Heart of Mary circle have helped find jobs for the children’s parents. Mrs. Cassidy said, “We have found work for men and women. The circle has placed 20 women in day work jobs where they earn $14 a day. This money is needed to support their families.” The first rummage sale at the center was organized by Mrs. Helen Nevius and volunteers from Holy Spirit parish. The women collect, sort and box clothes for the sales which are held the first Saturday of every month. Volunteers from Sts. Peter and Paul and Immaculate Heart of Mary parishes have held rummage sales at the center. Mrs. Cassidy said, “A lot of women would like to do something to help. If they would just come down here, they would see the need.”

Among the first women to work at the center were Mrs. Mary Scott and Mrs. Sylvia Rebello of Sts. Peter and Paul parish. Mrs. Rebello made the curtains for the classrooms and the circle donated supplies, and spent a day cleaning the center and waxing the floors.

Sister Barbara, O.F.M., said, “Mrs. Mary Jensen organized the first field trips, managed to get rodeo and circus tickets for the children, and donated equipment, although she holds a full-time job.”

Blocks, puzzles, games, books, furniture, and an aquarium are among donations the volunteers have gathered for the children. The First Presbyterian Church contributed $150, the nun said.

Mrs. Porter Hubbard, a full-time teacher at the center, is assisted by Mrs. Lessie Hughy. The pre-school classes are divided into morning and afternoon groups of 15 children. They eat lunch at the C.W. Hill school cafeteria across the street from the center.

Volunteers come from Sts. Peter and Paul, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Holy Spirit and St. Jude parishes, and the First Presbyterian Church.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society partially funds the program at the center and provides the money for the lunch program, Sister Barbara said.