The Landing

Lisa Bogemann, Leader at the Landing; Lind Ostewig, Director of the Landing; Steve Burt, Kiwanis March Program chair.

Linda Ostewig, Director of The Landing spoke to Kiwanis about the mission and activities of The Landing.   The Landing is a unique teen recovery program based on an eight step program. The program will address the issues that affect students the most. For some teens that means dealing with a troubled family or friendships.  For others it could mean finding freedom from an addiction, how to deal with feelings of acceptance or rejection, romantic relationships or pain and abuse.

The program meets weekly at 18 West South Street from 6:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.  Registration and dinner are from 6 to 7 p.m. with an open mic session.  For further information contact Linda at thelanding4teens@gmail.com or 317.525.7791.

Love INC of Greater Hancock County

Jim Peters, Executive Director of Love INC spoke to Kiwanis about the organization and its needs for future program expansion.  Love INC of Greater Hancock County is a clearinghouse whose purpose is to help our neighbors connect to needed resources from local agencies, churches and other community members. 

 Love INC provides 5 basic types of resources:

• Volunteer resources include minor auto repair, childcare, transportation and others.
•  GAP Ministry resources include clothing, food pantry, and furniture and appliances
• Transformational Ministry includes financial mentors, job resources and cooking on a budget programs
•  Financial Resources include benevolence and referrals to Salvation Army
• Information Referral includes Child & Family Services, Counselling, and Life Change Guidance.

Love INC needs volunteers who are trained Social Workers or Counsellors, people willing to act as financial mentors, and people willing to work in the office.  Love INC also has a ongoing need for direct financial support.  For more information see www.loveinc-ghc.org/ .

BackSacks

Tom Ferguson with a Junior Senior BackSack and an elementary Backsack

Tom Ferguson, President, Hancock County Food Pantry visited the Kiwanis to give more information to the members about the BackSack weekend food program.  Gleaners Food Bank developed the BackSack to provide children in grades K-6 take home a BackSack filled with enough kid-friendly, shelf-stable food to get them through the weekend. Gleaners expanded the program to Hancock County, partnering with the Hancock County Food Pantry. 

 In the 2013-2014 school year, elementary schools in the Greenfield Central, Mount Vernon, and Eastern Hancock School Systems were served a total of 204 BackSacks per week. This program is funded by Gleaners Food Bank and the Food Pantry functions as a Community Partner to distribute the BackSacks to each school system.  The Food Pantry estimates that there are about 270 elementary students who are food insecure in the county and hopes to reach all of them. 

The Food Pantry has tested Junior-Senior High BackSack program at Eastern Hancock Schools and would like to expand it county wide.  It is estimated that this will cost $75,000 per year.  The Food Pantry is looking for partners In the community to help underwrite the costs of this program.  For more information on partnering with the Pantry see http://hancockcountyfoodpantry.com or call them at 317.468.0273.

Dr. Harold Olin

Dr. Harold Olin, Superintendent of Greenfield-Central Schools, spoke to the Kiwanis Club about initiatives and issues at G-C.

Dr. Olin addressed the Digital Learning Conversion that will provide a one device for each student in the high school beginning this year and the Junior High beginning in 2017.    The technology tools will impact student and teacher creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.

Greenfield-Central has 4,600 students in four tiers.  Nearly 960 students in the corporation require special education.  In the past the corporation used the Joint Services group to provide that education.  Beginning in July, 2015 all the students at Greenfield Central requiring services will receive them from G-C personnel.

Five of the eight schools in the system received A ratings with the other 3 receiving a B.  Dr. Olin states the way these grades are calculated will change and it is unclear what the impact will be.   He also discussed the ISTEP test, weather delays, teacher evaluation, and arts in school. 

Dr. Olin is in his first year as Superintendent having previously served as and an administrator at the Greenfield Central Junior High School.  Dr. Olin is a lifelong resident of Hancock County and a graduate of Mount Vernon High School. He completed his Masters and Doctorate at Ball State University.   Dr. Olin’s father and grandfather were educators and his wife is a Kindergarten teacher.  He and his wife are the parents of three children.