Operation Our Town grants awards

About 250 students in kindergarten through second grade at four Altoona elementary schools will receive tutoring and homework help in the upcoming school year, thanks to Operation Our Town.

The Little All Stars after-school program is one of 13 programs funded through the latest grants awarded from the business-led, nonprofit organization.

Operation Our Town announced the grants during a news conference Thursday in the Altoona City Council chambers.

The projects work on the root causes to the community's drug and alcohol problems by helping to develop long-term positive impacts on people's lives and create an atmosphere where one doesn't fall into the hopelessness that leads a person to alcohol and drug addiction and crime, said Blair County Commissioner Donna Gority, a member of the committee that judged the grant applications.

Schools involved in the program are Juniata, Penn-Lincoln, Washington & Jefferson and Wright elementary schools.

"It is a safe haven for the students and extra help for reading and math skills," Altoona Area School District special project coordinator Tina Swineford said.

The schools were identified for the program through standardized and classroom testing and teacher recommendations, Assistant Superintendent Mary Lou Ray said.

Little All Stars will build on a similar program for third- through fifth-graders, Ray and Swineford said. The grant will help to pay for healthy snacks and transportation costs to get the children home after school.

Other projects funded include the National Night Out Against Crime program in Duncansville, community parks developed by the Nehemiah Project and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and a Family Day dinner program, Gority said.

Two playground sets will be built Saturday in the lower Fairview area by the Nehemiah Project, said Pastor Jim Balzano of Pleasant Valley Assembly of God, whose congregation is spearheading the effort.

"One of the things we noticed was there were not a lot of nice, safe places to play. The kids need places to run, jump and have fun," Balzano said.

The community is invited to help with the playground project, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Balzano said. The Nehemiah Project bought six parcels in the 11th Street area for its programs, including the playground.