Blog Spotlight... The Salvation Army Oak Cliff Community Center's After School Program!

A few blog posts back, we featured The Salvation Army’s Women’s Auxiliary giving away backpacks and school supplies to children in the DFW. It is hard to believe that school is back in session and we have no doubt the children are enjoying their new backpacks and supplies.

Once school starts many parents wonder where their children can go during after school hours. The Salvation Army offers great places for children to hang out after school. Throughout fall, we will highlight the different Salvation Army after school programs. This week on our blog, we will focus on The Salvation Army in Oak Cliff. The community center offers a wonderful after school program which emphasizes academic tutoring and music lessons.

Denisse Gaytan, The Salvation Army Oak Cliff After School Facilitator, said the program is exactly what parents in the Oak Cliff community need.

“The area where the children go to school is a highly targeted for crime,” Gaytan said. “We go to the schools and pick the children up, so parents do not have to worry about their child walking in dangerous neighborhoods.” Once the children arrive, they are given a healthy snack and spend time working on their homework. “We offer the best tutoring program,” Gaytan said. Many of the children’s parents only speak Spanish, which can be a challenge in helping their child with homework.

In addition to the tutoring, the children will soon be able to take music lessons. Captain Candee Elias, Salvation Army Oak Cliff officer, says the new music program will be a tremendous benefit to the after school participants. “When a child learns music, they learn also learn how to concentrate and focus better,” Elias said. “Through learning music, they will learn many additional skills as well."

The Salvation Army in Oak Cliff still has open enrollment. If you would like more information about their after school program, please call Denise Gaytan at 214- 941-5911.

Check out this video!