Photo by Adam Vogler
Gear Up is moving into new offices located in suite 150 1420 C. and E. Drive.
The Emporia office of Kansas Kids @ Gear Up moved to a new location last week after its former host location, the Flint Hills Technical College, needed more space to expand its own programs.
“They had experienced a good bit of growth and had added, I believe, seven faculty members, and we were occupying three desks in that little suite,” regional coordinator Darlene Langley said in an interview late last week.
“We have been making a mad scramble to try to get into just any place. ... We’re moving in now.”
State Director Corinne Nilsen brought in desks, chairs and additional file cabinets Friday night to complete the office set-up in Suite 150 of the old Birch Telecom building at 1420 C of E Drive.
Gear Up is renting space in the building. Under normal circumstances, space is donated for the organization’s use.
“As far as I know, we’re the only Kansas Kids regional office that has ever had to rent space,” Langley said. “Usually we are housed within our state partners, SRS, The Farm or DCCCA.”
Nilsen said that the organization’s limited budget makes in-kind matches the preferable way to meet the required match attached to the group’s grant from the Kansas Department of Education.
“About the best way we can match it ... is by getting what we call ‘in-kind space,’” Nilsen said. “The benefit to that to the other person who is donating the space, that could be a tax break to them.”
Because the program is operated through Wichita State University, the donation credit technically is given through the educational institution.
The technical college space was donated to Gear Up; however, donated space could not be found for the move last week.
“We ended up renting space for now,” Nilsen said. “We couldn’t have Darlene working out of her garage.”
The organization exists primarily to help foster children and other low-income youths in the area.
“‘Gear Up’ is an acronym for Gaining Early Awareness and Reading for Undergraduate Programs,’” Langley said. “In a nutshell, that’s what we are all about.”
Langley said that foster children make up about 70 percent of the target population for services statewide. The Emporia region includes 17 counties of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services southcentral area, although not all 17 are yet being served.
“What we provide, No. 1, we want to encourage and motivate them to stay in school and finish their education,” Langley said. “Then we want to be supportive and help them develop a vision toward going on to college.”
Gear Up serves children in kindergarten through 12th grade.
The organization works with SOS and SOS CASA of the Flint Hills, child-welfare organizations, and others that deal with foster and low-income children.
“Our largest resource has been TFI, The Farm,” she said.
Langley said the organization offers a broad variety of services, according to needs of the youngsters involved.
Tutoring, cultural and enrichment activities, help with financial aid forms and college applications, as well as help preparing for ACT and other tests.
“We do all those different pieces and usually we work in a school site,” Langley said.
Gear Up in the past has placed tutors at Emporia Middle School and Emporia High School and has been active every year at William Allen White elementary school and through Lowther South Intermediate School’s QUEST program. Gear Up also has served Northern Heights High School and other area schools.
Nilsen said that people who want to apply for Gear Up services may call a toll-free number, (866) 815-5404.
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Posted by justamom (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good luck Gear-Up! You run a wonderful program and deserve a great space. Come on Emporia...Surely there is some place in this town that can offer them a small office space. Compared to what they were dealing with at FHTC, any old small office would do.
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