In 1996, Angie Moody and some local Thorntown moms recognized the real, everyday need for families to get help with their kids. Homework, meals, and afterschool activities were areas many full-time working parents and single mothers with full plates struggled to provide on their own. After nearly 30 years, and an initial start before the COVID-19 pandemic, We All Value Each-other (WAVE) was born and is now in its fourth year of operation.
“Love and education make an impact on lives. It’s two things that can change lives. We’re showing the kids that we care, we care about their life, we care about their families,” Moody said. “Love is a big encompassing word, you know, but that is what we’re trying to show.”
WAVE is a free program funded by grants and donations. With a current capacity of 25 children, WAVE provides programming from school pick-up at 2:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Together, the children and volunteers walk the six blocks from Thorntown Elementary to the WAVE building. Children receive a small snack while they decompress from school, then take part in the main program, which consists of a wide range of activities. Grant funding allows the children to go on trips throughout the year, including visits to Dole’s Tree Farm, bowling, and the zoo. WAVE also takes monthly trips to the library. After the main program, the children are fed dinner and have homework time, where they can either work independently or with a volunteer. Free time follows until pick-up.
“We put a strong emphasis on our homework time and the importance of education. Teachers know they can send homework, and we will help our kids get it done. We love to see students’ names in the Honor Roll article. They get excited, too,” Moody said.
The programming at WAVE is designed to show kids the many options available to them, help them see how capable they are, and inspire self-confidence and motivation. From visits to solid waste management in Lebanon to learn about recycling to making their own pizza and breadsticks at Pizza King, each event aims to broaden the children’s perspective.
Moody is planning to add two more programs to serve the community. One, in collaboration with Pandora Woodruff at the Purdue Extension Office, will serve grades 10, 11, and 12, teaching life skills ranging from budgeting to laundry care to automobile maintenance.
The other program will focus on engaging seventh, eighth, and ninth-grade students in a variety of programs, including mental health, leadership, and understanding how much they are valued. Information on these programs is forthcoming.
WAVE is always in need of more volunteers. Volunteer opportunities include walking the kids from the school to the WAVE building, cooking dinner in the kitchen, chaperoning outings, tutoring homework, and more. Anyone 15 and older is welcome to volunteer.
For last-minute school supplies, contact Moody to check what is available. All school supplies are free.
For more information about WAVE, visit Facebook @catchtheWAVE. To donate or learn more, contact Moody at (765) 336-2488 or email thorntownwave@gmail.com. Donations can be made via Venmo @thorntownwave.
