Look who’s 50! This year, LEARN Resource Center (LEARN) is celebrating 50 years of serving East Allen County, Indiana. LEARN Resource Center originally opened its doors as Eastside Neighborhood Center in River Haven, Indiana in 1966. It was one of the first rural Headstart Programs in Allen County and served residents of Riverhaven and eastern Allen County.
In 1979, Eastside Neighborhood Center was renamed Arthur J. Blaising Social Services for Arthur Blaising, a Riverhaven resident, who was hired by the Allen County Economic Opportunity Coalition to serve as a liaison between the organization and Riverhaven residents. Later “Social Services” would be changed to “Community Center” to reflect the agency’s purpose and programs.
In 2005, the name was changed again to East Allen Family Resource Center as a way to let people know the agency aimed to serve the entire East Allen community, not just the citizens of Riverhaven. However, so many people thought the organization was part of the East Allen County School system that the organization began doing business as LEARN Resource Center to eliminate confusion in 2012.
Over 50 years, LEARN Resource Center has offered many services including: preschool and school-age programs, GED preparation, clothing and food banks, and adult computer and job training programs. Today, LEARN serves elementary aged children in East Allen County Schools. It offers before and after school programs for children at New Haven Primary, New Haven Intermediate, and Heritage Elementary. The programs aim to provide children with a safe place to play and learn while their parents are at work. LEARN works to enrich the learning and well-being of children and their families by promoting personal, social and educational development for a lifetime.
LEARN Resource Center also operates a summer program that takes place at Grace Gathering church. The summer program is designed to prevent the learning gap that often occurs for students in the summer. The program lasts from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and the children receive breakfast, lunch and a snack. The staff plans theme weeks with activities that keep the kids busy all day long.
Even though the programs offered through LEARN are viewed as childcare to some, they are much more than that. Children receive homework help, social engagement and enrichment opportunities. The programs are designed to have a balance of affordability, quality programming and accessibility so parents can have peace of mind when they can’t be there for their kids.
Sharon Wilson, Executive Director of LEARN, had been with the Center for nearly twenty of those fifty years, and she would tell you that her passion for the organization comes from knowing that everything is “for the kids.” In her experience, Wilson has seen just about everything, and her favorite memories are when she gets the chance to see a student’s behavior, social skills, or grades improve because of their participation in the LEARN Program. Wilson says the longevity of this grassroots nonprofit is truly something special, and she hopes LEARN Resource Center can continue serving the community for many years to come.
LEARN Resource Center is an official 501(c)(3) and the majority of funding for the organization comes from a grant through 21st Century Learning Centers. 21st Century Learning Centers is a national program that supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. Additional funding comes from donations and nominal program fees that are charged to participate in the programs.
In the future, LEARN Resource Center hopes to expand its programs to additional sites, and have the resources to accept more children into its current programs. Additionally, LEARN is establishing a scholarship fund to cover the weekly fees of children who otherwise would not be able to attend program. If you would like to make a donation to the organization to help with these efforts you can do so by going to www.learnresourcecenter.org/donate.
