Susie Wright, Lindy Dorsey and Marcia Mayes (in the back) are helping the kids play Bunco. These kids are troubled youth that are at this time unable to cope with family or foster home life.   Most have been abused and have become self abusers, such as cutting or burning themselves. They live full time in Bokenkamp, a group home.  To protect the identity of the children, any faces that you can recognize are either staff or volunteers from Odessa TX. The home provides at least one staff member for every 5 children.  

Virginia Haasl is spotted in the print shirt.  Each kid received juice, chips and candy while playing and then the winners of each Bunco game got to select from various prizes, such as games, educational toys, markers, cosmetics and larger food items.  All the kids got to take home at least one prize.

Susie and Virgina are helping as is Linda's friend, Eliza Oviedo, an art student at TAMU-CC. The group visited the points store to see what to bring next time and how our prizes matched the point ones.  This behavior level child earns 10-14 points a week.  A tube of Pringles is 6 points, Ramen noodles and soup bowls are 5 points, most candy bars are 4-7 points, hair gel, shampoo etc. run around 4-8 points depending upon size and "coolness".  Other things in the store included cute panties, ball caps, games, markers, paperbacks, and other items a typical teenager might like.  The store is supplied from donations only and manned totally by volunteers.  The Hearts and Hands Club plans to offer an afternoon activity each month to this level child.  Anyone interested in helping, please contact Susie Wright. Background papers must be filled out prior to working with the kids.  Prize donations are also appreciated.  (No metal, glass or anything that could be used as a destructive device is allowed.) For more information on Bokenkamp, see  http://www.lsss.org/children/bokenkamp.htm.