by Neil Richard
Thanks to an invitation from the King George Education Foundation (KGEF), I had the chance to learn more about their FoxSmart Center. The KGEF's center is designed to provide students in need primarily with school supplies, although they do offer personal hygiene products and have a small collection of clothing to choose from. School staff can also get supplies that they may need for their classroom. Everything inside is free of charge as their primary "customer" will be somebody without the funding to get the necessary supplies on their own.
The FoxSmart Center opened this month inside of what I affectionately call "the old vo-tech building." Despite my many years as a student of King George County Schools, I have never set foot inside the building that sits between the current King George Middle School and the tennis courts. While the building was still full of stuff left behind after the new high school was built ten years ago, it was in fairly good shape for being built in 1969. The presence of the FoxSmart Center clearly had a beneficial impact on the building.
Despite a heavy wave of nostalgia whenever I go to my old stomping grounds, the current Farmer's Market combined with the Middle School Expansion Project quickly put me on track to focus on my tour. Greeted by Annie Cupka, KGEF President, and Caroline Phelps, KGEF Director of Communication, we first saw the unused portions of the building. The Parks and Recreation Department and the Middle School Wrestling Team use one room on occasion and we weren't sure if the High School's NJROTC cadets used another but their wall mural was still there. The back room was used primarily for storage for the Tennis Team, Middle School Athletic Director, and whoever forgot their gym shorts on the bench.
Continuing down the hall, we got a tour of the bathroom. Unlike my previous bathroom tour at the Citizen's Center, my photographer felt it necessary to take pictures. Although I felt uncomfortable being in the Ladies Room, absent of anyone using it of course, I quickly learned how important a toilet could be. When the Foundation moved into the building, there was nothing but a hole in the ground. While some may dwell on how bad things were in the vo-tech building, it was clear during the tour that the Foundation's message was much more positive. And their hard work in getting a toilet installed was rewarded by numerous compliments from the mothers and athletes that used the building in the past, but without the toilet.
One final note about the tour was the old metal shop portion of the building. Even though it was cluttered and full of everything conceivable, it had great potential on many levels. Some of the items stored there should be put into a museum. Some items can be re-used by the schools for education or athletic needs. Some items could even be sold for a major profit. But the room itself had potential to be used by future students in vo-tech, or CTE if you prefer. Other non-profits could also benefit from such a large space, or even any of the other vacant rooms in the building.
The Foundation's mission to "unite the community to enhance public education" was clear from the hard work they put into making the building usable again. Aside from getting a new toilet, they also worked on lobbying to get new LED light fixtures installed as well as refurbishing the room they occupy for their FoxSmart Center. And the Foundation's efforts were clear elsewhere as well. Being the first group to use the building on a regular basis in a decade, they've spent long hours working to make improvements. By the end of the tour, it was clear that having the building occupied again was a benefit. A benefit that was more subtle than the school supplies they give to students and teachers in need.
In talking about the goals of the center itself, Cupka said she felt the Foundation had exceeded their goal of uniting the community to help the schools. Despite exceeding that goal, nobody there looked like they were resting on their laurels. While we toured the room, the Foundation's Treasurer, Christina Arledge-Buck, welcomed a student that was referred by a Guidance Counselor. The student was able to get the supplies they needed for school. There were also stories of students getting everything on their school supply list in one visit, or a student getting supplies sent to their school, or a teacher getting something that they ran out of.
The FoxSmart Center is primarily open Mondays from 2pm to 5pm as well as Thursdays and Saturdays from 9am to 12pm. On Fridays, when school is in session for only a half day, the center is open from 1pm to 4pm (unless it's a holiday weekend). The center is open to any student that's referred by a school Guidance Counselor. If the student or their family is unable to travel to the FoxSmart Center, arrangements can be made to deliver the supplies to the student at school. The center is also open to any member of the King George County School staff without a referral, including nurses.
The Foundation has had numerous donations from private citizens as well as local businesses. Even as we toured the room, Amanda Zuker and her daughter Paige arrived with a donation of supplies. Companies like Access Eye, BB&T, and the United Way have also made donations, earning the honor of being a Partner In Education.
Cupka and Phelps said they wanted to "get the word out" about the FoxSmart Center and the supplies they offer. They also wanted to shine a light on the Foundation's other work, including their grant offerings and their Evening of Excellence. They also said they need volunteers to work in the FoxSmart Center and that it was a great opportunity for students that needed community service hours.
The King George Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that earns less than $50,000 annually in income. Their brochure and donation needs are below.
[All photos, except the yearbook photo, (c) 2018 by Yvonne Richard. Used with permission.]
Thanks to an invitation from the King George Education Foundation (KGEF), I had the chance to learn more about their FoxSmart Center. The KGEF's center is designed to provide students in need primarily with school supplies, although they do offer personal hygiene products and have a small collection of clothing to choose from. School staff can also get supplies that they may need for their classroom. Everything inside is free of charge as their primary "customer" will be somebody without the funding to get the necessary supplies on their own.
The FoxSmart Center opened this month inside of what I affectionately call "the old vo-tech building." Despite my many years as a student of King George County Schools, I have never set foot inside the building that sits between the current King George Middle School and the tennis courts. While the building was still full of stuff left behind after the new high school was built ten years ago, it was in fairly good shape for being built in 1969. The presence of the FoxSmart Center clearly had a beneficial impact on the building.
 |
| A Splash of '91 - 1991 King George High School Yearbook, page 131 |
Despite a heavy wave of nostalgia whenever I go to my old stomping grounds, the current Farmer's Market combined with the Middle School Expansion Project quickly put me on track to focus on my tour. Greeted by Annie Cupka, KGEF President, and Caroline Phelps, KGEF Director of Communication, we first saw the unused portions of the building. The Parks and Recreation Department and the Middle School Wrestling Team use one room on occasion and we weren't sure if the High School's NJROTC cadets used another but their wall mural was still there. The back room was used primarily for storage for the Tennis Team, Middle School Athletic Director, and whoever forgot their gym shorts on the bench.
 |
| The NJROTC mural still stands. |
Continuing down the hall, we got a tour of the bathroom. Unlike my previous bathroom tour at the Citizen's Center, my photographer felt it necessary to take pictures. Although I felt uncomfortable being in the Ladies Room, absent of anyone using it of course, I quickly learned how important a toilet could be. When the Foundation moved into the building, there was nothing but a hole in the ground. While some may dwell on how bad things were in the vo-tech building, it was clear during the tour that the Foundation's message was much more positive. And their hard work in getting a toilet installed was rewarded by numerous compliments from the mothers and athletes that used the building in the past, but without the toilet.
 |
| Many people expressed their joy over the new toilets. |
One final note about the tour was the old metal shop portion of the building. Even though it was cluttered and full of everything conceivable, it had great potential on many levels. Some of the items stored there should be put into a museum. Some items can be re-used by the schools for education or athletic needs. Some items could even be sold for a major profit. But the room itself had potential to be used by future students in vo-tech, or CTE if you prefer. Other non-profits could also benefit from such a large space, or even any of the other vacant rooms in the building.
 |
| There were countless artifacts like this left in the metal shop. |
 |
| The same cabinet as seen in the 1991 photo above. |
 |
| While not all of the graffiti was appropriate, we found the tribute to Sgt. Nick Mason touching. |
The Foundation's mission to "unite the community to enhance public education" was clear from the hard work they put into making the building usable again. Aside from getting a new toilet, they also worked on lobbying to get new LED light fixtures installed as well as refurbishing the room they occupy for their FoxSmart Center. And the Foundation's efforts were clear elsewhere as well. Being the first group to use the building on a regular basis in a decade, they've spent long hours working to make improvements. By the end of the tour, it was clear that having the building occupied again was a benefit. A benefit that was more subtle than the school supplies they give to students and teachers in need.
 |
| The Foundation's FoxSmart Center has an office. |
In talking about the goals of the center itself, Cupka said she felt the Foundation had exceeded their goal of uniting the community to help the schools. Despite exceeding that goal, nobody there looked like they were resting on their laurels. While we toured the room, the Foundation's Treasurer, Christina Arledge-Buck, welcomed a student that was referred by a Guidance Counselor. The student was able to get the supplies they needed for school. There were also stories of students getting everything on their school supply list in one visit, or a student getting supplies sent to their school, or a teacher getting something that they ran out of.
 |
| Annie Cupka, KGEF President, beams with pride. |
The FoxSmart Center is primarily open Mondays from 2pm to 5pm as well as Thursdays and Saturdays from 9am to 12pm. On Fridays, when school is in session for only a half day, the center is open from 1pm to 4pm (unless it's a holiday weekend). The center is open to any student that's referred by a school Guidance Counselor. If the student or their family is unable to travel to the FoxSmart Center, arrangements can be made to deliver the supplies to the student at school. The center is also open to any member of the King George County School staff without a referral, including nurses.
 |
| School supplies for students and teachers. |
 |
| The FoxSmart Center also has personal hygiene supplies. |
The Foundation has had numerous donations from private citizens as well as local businesses. Even as we toured the room, Amanda Zuker and her daughter Paige arrived with a donation of supplies. Companies like Access Eye, BB&T, and the United Way have also made donations, earning the honor of being a Partner In Education.
 |
| (l to r) Christina Arledge-Buck, Amanda Zuker, and Paige Zuker. |
Cupka and Phelps said they wanted to "get the word out" about the FoxSmart Center and the supplies they offer. They also wanted to shine a light on the Foundation's other work, including their grant offerings and their Evening of Excellence. They also said they need volunteers to work in the FoxSmart Center and that it was a great opportunity for students that needed community service hours.
The King George Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that earns less than $50,000 annually in income. Their brochure and donation needs are below.
[All photos, except the yearbook photo, (c) 2018 by Yvonne Richard. Used with permission.]
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