Video: Police Athletic League Volunteers Help At Extended School Year Program

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – School may have been out, but through the month of June, the Extended School Year Program was in full swing at Tupelo’s Pierce Street Elementary.

The Extended School Year program runs for one month. It is a way for students with developmental and physical disabilities to keep up their skills during summer break.

This year, for the first time, a physical education block was added, thanks to a partnership with volunteers from Tupelo’s Police Athletic League.

“Some of them have special needs, some of them are physically challenged, but for the most part, all of them have a good heart and we just try to mesh their talents with our talents, just to have a good time and spend some time with them,” said Jerry Reed, who is a volunteer coach with PAL. He helped coordinate the PAL volunteers as they met twice a week with the students.

Coach Reed says no one was required to help out, but he is excited to see the interaction between the PAL members and the youngsters.

“For them it gives them an opportunity to see different kids in a different light, that may be challenged in some ways and to be proactive with them and to show them, hey , they have different abilities but they have the same dreams and desire that you have,” Reed said.

For Brandon Harps and Gabe Richardson, helping out at rec time for the Extended School Year program has been a highlight of their summer.

“I love to interact with these kids, they’re fun, they teach me stuff, it’s just a fun time,” said Harps.

“I mean, I love being with these kids, God gave us a blessing to come out here and have fun with the kids. Maybe they wish they can do what we do, so we just try to come here and lift their heads up, you know,” Richardson said.

Organizers hope to make the physical activity component a part of all future Extended School Year programs.

Sponsors for the Extended School Year include B and B Concrete, Coca Cola and JBHM Architecture.