Upward Thrive Academy, a local nonprofit organization, has been serving Charles County with food necessities and valuable life skills for youth since 2012. Charles County Public Schools count on many nonprofits like Upward Thrive Academy to fulfill weekend meal and snack bags for its now 10 community schools every week. Upward Thrive assists with 3 local schools and provides 255 meal backpacks every week, plus snacks. Their commitment to serve as an official “Community Partner” with the school system this year means they provide 3 meals per day for qualifying students to take home for the weekend.
This service is vital to assist the population of food insecure families in Charles County and the need continues to grow. Upward Thrive Academy tells Charitable Trust Staff that at times, they worry they will run out of the food necessary to fulfill these students’ needs and have even dipped into their personal expenses to ensure they can keep up. Upward Thrive receives grants, such as the Charitable Trust’s Nonprofit Fiscal Year Grant, but continues to need assistance from the community to support the growing need.
In addition to providing food, Upward Thrive Academy runs theater, media/journalism, sewing classes, and STEM clubs for youth. Executive Director, Mildred Jackson, tells the Trust that these youth programs, primarily overseen by Director, Alicia Hadley, are twofold: They provide important skills and confidence building for youth, but the programs are also a means to bring in additional income for the organization to assist with food purchases for weekend backpacks as well as their “Neighbor’s Choice” food pantry. Families pay a small fee to enroll their students in their programs and this helps to support all their missions.
Upward Thrive has some urgent needs they are hoping the community can fill to keep their youth and food programs thriving. If you can assist with any of the following, please do!
HOW TO HELP:
- Food donations for weekend backpacks can be dropped off at the 3rd floor lobby of 10665 Stanhaven Place in White Plains (ReMax building)
- Donate folding tables and folding chairs for youth programs
- Sponsor the purchase of a high-performance computer for STEM programs
- Sponsor the purchase of large freezers/refrigerators for food storage
- Connect Upward Thrive with a low-cost vehicle for youth field trips
If you can help, please email upwardthriveacademy@gmail.com for more information. Visit upwardthriveinc.org to learn more about their offerings.