(Left to right) Oscar Woods of Elm Grove Baptist, Clyde Johnson of the Unitarian Church, Lawrence Robertson of Park Forest Baptist Church, the Rev. Freddie Henderson of St. Luke's and St. Paul's United Methodist churches, Julia Sheffield of University Presbyterian Church, Pastor Mike Button of St. Paul Lutheran Church and Jenola Duke of Broadmoor United Methodist share a snack while listening attentively to Principal Mona Collins (out of view) discussing volunteer support at Capitol Elementary School.

The Volunteers In Public Schools (VIPS) We Believe In Children Council hosted a "Faith Communities In Action" Open House Wednesday, February 9, at Capitol Elementary School.  The Open House allowed representatives of Baton Rouge faith groups an opportunity to witness how three diverse congregations have united to support Capitol Elementary.  The We Believe In Children Council facilitates effective partnerships with East Baton Rouge Parish School System sites that support academic success.   

"We all preach the same message: to give back to our community and help nourish our youth.  We must step outside of our doors and work together to support our public schools," said Pastor Errol Domingue of Elm Grove Baptist Church.  "Elm Grove Baptist has been blessed to support Capitol Elementary with St. Paul Lutheran and St. Mary Baptist."
 
At the event, Principal Mona Collins shared the value and impact of community support at Capitol Elementary, as well as the key to successful partnerships: follow through.  “We need a soldier who will follow through with the project,” Collins said.  Her lead “soldiers” at Capitol Elementary are Linda and Darwin Knochemus from St. Paul Lutheran Church, Oscar Woods of Elm Grove Baptist Church and Lillie Turner of St. Mary Baptist Church.

Linda Knochemus and Woods shared the history behind their collaboration dating back to 1996.  In the fall of 2009, St. Paul Lutheran and Elm Grove Baptist joined forces with St. Mary Baptist to provide the school with about 25 volunteers on a weekly basis as Reading and Math Friends, to pop popcorn for teachers and to call parents to encourage high attendance rates.  The churches also provide monetary and volunteer support at school-wide events.  For more information on partnering with an area public schools, contact Angela Lau at (225) 226-4706 or alau@ebrschools.org.  To find out how you can support your community public school visit, vips.ebrschools.org.