Saturday, October 16, 1999
Volunteer school mentors may move with Starkist
4th St. Elementary program to feel loss
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEWPORT — The recent decision by Starkist Foods Inc. to move its headquarters and 425 jobs to Pittsburgh by mid-July will affect more than Newport's economy.
It also will put a strain on a volunteer mentoring program at Newport public schools' Fourth Street Elementary.
About 12 of the 116 volunteers in the school's HOSTS program (Help One Student To Succeed), are from Starkist, the Newport-based division of H.J. Heinz Co.
That means most, if not all, of the HOSTS program's Starkist volunteers, will be gone by the end of the school year, said Yvette Ferrell, coordinator of Newport's HOSTS program. The Starkist vacancies will be in addition to the 10 unfilled volun teer slots.
Besides the volunteer help, Starkist has given the HOSTS program a computer and a $1,000 grant to buy books and other instructional materials.
“Many of these people have been with us since the very beginning,” Ms. Ferrell said. “They've more or less taken us under their wing. It's like we're losing our friends.”
Through the national HOSTS program, Fourth Street Elementary pupils in grades two and three who need extra help with reading and writing are paired with adult mentors. Students in Newport's program, which has been in place four years, spend a half hour a day, four days a week, with their mentors.
During a visit this week, HOSTS volunteer Tanya Dempsey helped 7-year-old Joe Wright find Halloween words in a puzzle.
Ms. Dempsey, a Northside resident, said she learned of HOSTS through an e-mail at Starkist.
“I've always done volunteer things, so it just seemed like the thing to do,” she said.
It was because of Ms. Dempsey's involvement with HOSTS that co-worker Susan Thieman decided to volunteer.
“It's a nice break in the day,” the Taylor Mill woman said, as she encouraged 9-year-old Nikki Wells in her search for holiday words. “We enjoy coming over here.
While Starkist employee Gwen Kemp will likely move to Pittsburgh with her company, she said that she plans to stay with HOSTS through the end of the school year.
“I enjoy watching the children as they learn a new skill,” the Highland Heights woman said. “It's fun to watch their reaction.”
Starkist employee Julie Weickert, who volunteers with the HOSTS program every Tuesday, said she's been doing it for three years.
“It's something that I look forward to,” she said. “The last two years I've had two boys who can be very trying at times, but other days you go in, and they're very excited and wanting to learn. It's great to know that you can make a difference.”
Ms. Ferrell said she's hoping that other local businesses will fill the void when Starkist leaves.
“We've very appreciative of their help,” Ms. Ferrell said. “They've done a lot for us, and we just hate to lose them.”
To volunteer for the HOSTS program, call Yvette Ferrell at 292-3070 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays.
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Volunteer school mentors may move with Starkist
