Some of the most critical hours of the day for school-aged children are the ones before and after their regular school day. There is an increasing need for a safe and productive place for them to be, one that provides play, structure, companionship and nourishment both of the soul and the body.
The Rainbow Homework Club checks off all of those boxes. It is sponsored by the Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro Inc. and is the largest after-school academic assistance program in Cape May County.
To quote Rosie Jefferson, program director, The Rainbow Homework Club is a unique program in the historically unique community of Whitesboro. Housed in the Martin Luther King Center, every afternoon during the school year, Monday through Thursday, from 3 to 5:30, five or six buses drop off children in grades K-5 from Middle Township elementary schools to attend the Homework Club. This school year there were 72 registered participants, with an average of 60 in attendance each day. The center is mainly staffed by volunteers.
As the children arrive, they are greeted by the volunteers who check them in and guide them toward an appropriate activity. There is time to play on the playground before they settle down to complete their homework in multiple subject areas. Ample supervision and extra help are provided to keep the children on task.
Reading is encouraged, both independent and assisted. A book cart is available with age-appropriate reading material to meet the needs of every level of student, as well as with some Chromebooks. Jefferson believes strongly in equipping the children with the skills necessary to succeed in school as well as in life. Parents are encouraged to inform her of any areas in which their child may be lacking, so that special attention can be paid to that concern.
As with most children, food is a top priority for the members of the Homework Club. I was told that one of the first things that many of the children do upon arrival at the center is to check the menu for dinner. In the early days of the program, children were provided with a snack. It quickly became clear that dinner might be a better option, so by doing her research, Jefferson successfully launched a dinner program for the students.
Strict guidelines are followed so that each child receives a well-balanced meal. Dinner is served promptly at 5. As an added treat, there is always one day a month when each child receives a Happy Meal, complete with toy, courtesy of the Cape May Court House McDonald’s.
Once the school year ends, all eyes turn toward summer activities for children. In summer 2025, Rainbow Summer Camp will open for its 25th season at the Martin Luther King Center. The program is offered to everyone, not just residents of Middle Township. The program accepts children ages 6 to 13. Applications are available at the Martin Luther King Center or online. Children are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. There are also employment applications available for those interested in a summer job.
The summer program runs Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If parents have a need, extended care is available in both the morning and afternoon. The cost is $175 a week, which includes breakfast and lunch, field trips and two camp T-shirts.
On the first day of camp, there is an icebreaker activity to encourage the children to get to know one another. Field trips are also offered, and participants have enjoyed experiences like the Philadelphia Zoo and the Franklin Institute. There is a community garden on-site for the children to learn how to grow their own food, thus encouraging them to make healthy nutritional choices.
Jefferson, who directs both programs, was a public servant in Cape May County for 35 years. When she retired in 2011, she volunteered for the Roadside Program at the MLK center in Whitesboro. She started her retirement with a garbage bag in her hand, going up and down the streets of Whitesboro picking up trash with young volunteers. The rest is history.
In 2015 she was offered the job of director of the Rainbow Homework Club. She has been in that position for 10 years. She must have told me at least six times that she loves what she does. And I believe her. She oversees the future of our children, and she takes her job seriously. As she said to me, “No Disrespect Allowed.” Words to live by for all of us.
As we concluded our interview, Jefferson’s phone rang, and she said, “I have to get this! It’s the ice cream man!” Once she concluded her call, she told me that May 9 was the last day of the Homework Club program, and she was setting up a visit from an ice cream truck so that all of the kids could enjoy a treat. What a beautiful segue into summer. She truly does love what she does.
