• About
  • Advertising
  • History
  • Staff
  • Contact

The Andersonian

The Anderson University Student Newspaper

Anderson University’s Student Newspaper

  • Campus News
  • Audio
  • Features
  • Arts & Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Video
  • COVID-19
You are here: Home / Features / “A Heart for Kids” assists Anderson community


“A Heart for Kids” assists Anderson community

February 19, 2020 by Guest Writer

By Samantha Huber

AU repeatedly tells their students to get involved both on-campus and in the community, but students often have no idea where to start or feel unsure about taking the step to join an organization. Several students from AU have taken that leap of faith and joined “A Heart for Kids,” an organization that serves the Anderson community through faith-based mentoring and tutoring for children. 

Sophomore Jennifer Sanders explained what a great opportunity working with “A Heart for Kids” is for anyone. 

“This is a great opportunity to get some hands-on experience and become an active member in the community and give back to Anderson in some way,” Sanders said. “In addition to all of those great things, you will be making a tremendous impact in a young student’s life.”

Not only do students get to impact the community and lives of individuals through “A Heart for Kids,” but working with the kids has a profound impact on the volunteers.

“I think that the most important lesson that I have learned through working here is to never count anyone out,” said Sanders. “When I first started working with my student, she was levels below what her reading level should have been based on her grade, but I have recently found out that she has gone up seven reading levels and is only two behind the goal that her teacher set for her by the end of the year, and she told me today that she wants to go past that goal to surprise everyone. Any student has infinitely much room to grow and succeed.”

Sanders wholeheartedly believes in the positive effects working with “A Heart for Kids” has for individuals from all areas and backgrounds.  

“Even for non-education majors, this program will give you amazing experience working with different kinds of individuals from different home lives and allow you to experience what it is like working and serving within your local community,” she said. “It is a great opportunity to get more experience working with kids, as well as make some money while experiencing something fun and new.”

Something as simple as one of the kids asking to walk over to the building together made all the difference to Sanders. 

“That was the first time that I had felt she really made a connection with me, and since then we have gotten closer,” she said. “I feel like we have such a good relationship and can just enjoy our tutor time together.” 

Senior Tori Robinson has also learned important lessons as a result of her time with “A Heart for kids.” 

“I have learned to continue to seek patience because the kids have as much going on in their lives as I do,” she said.

Robinson believes the work that “A Heart for Kids” is doing in the lives of kids and in the community of Anderson is invaluable. 

“It is amazing how much all of this is impacting their lives because, in some cases, it is probably one of the only places they are getting showered with love and care,” she said. “It provides them with the consistency of having someone set expectations for them and not let them slip through the cracks like the education system often does.”

“A Heart for Kids” is a valuable experience for all different majors and potential careers. Robinson has found that her interactions with kids while involved with “A Heart for Kids” will aid her in her career that will involve interacting and counseling kids of different ages. 

“Some of the kids have gone through worse situations than me and being aware of that helps me with the counseling aspect of my future career a lot,” she said. “You get to discuss what they are going through and help teach them how to process those feelings and let them know that it is okay to have feelings about things.”

Although working with certain kids or parents can be difficult, Robinson is convinced that the good always outweighs the bad. 

“The pure excitement the kids show and all of the hugs I get are absolutely amazing… I even have kids run up to their parents and say this is the only time they are having fun and the favorite part of their week.”

Sanders and Robinson both agree that being involved with “A Heart for Kids” has been a one-of-a-kind experience, and they would love to see even more people get involved. 

Robinson has been with “A Heart for Kids” for two years now and has witnessed how much it has already grown and cannot wait to see what the future holds for the organization.

“Seeing first-hand how ‘A Heart for Kids’ has developed, grown, and expanded since I have been a part of the program for two of the three years of existence has been awesome,” she said. “I have gotten to witness how many more kids we can help and how we can positively influence their lives.”

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Features

Watch

Jacey Crawford discusses the breaking news that classes will be virtual for the remainder of the semester, beginning Nov. 16.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Jacey Crawford discusses the recent esports win and talks with Dr. Sarah Neal, Lead of AU’s COVID-19 Task Force.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Video

Listen

Raven Watch 2020-12-07

On this episode of the Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan is joined by former Big Ten Player of the Year and Indiana Pacer Clark Kellogg as they discuss displaying your faith in sports, Clark’s career as a player and broadcaster and his game of “H.O.R.S.E.” with President Obama.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-12-03

On this episode, Jordan Yaney sits down with senior soccer player Drew Sonnefeldt to discuss his soccer career, trips to Europe, hobbies, and dreams of playing professional soccer

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-09-24

In the third Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan Yaney talks with Hannah Hawkins, a senior basketball player, about starting her freshman year 0-25, becoming more of a leader on the team and facing their one-on-one battle on the court freshman year. Thanks to our sponsor, the Folgate Agency. Please contact Steve Folgate for Allstate insurance and […]

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-09-18

In the second-ever Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan Yaney talks with Kennedy Parker, a senior baseball player, about finding out last season was canceled while the team was in Florida, why he decided to come back for a fifth year and play and what he expects out of this year’s team.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Audio

Follow

andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
16 Jan

Check out these pictures from the Men's Basketball game on Thursday: https://andersonian.smugmug.com/AUMBB-01142021/

Reply on Twitter 1350570022108860423Retweet on Twitter 13505700221088604232Like on Twitter 13505700221088604236Twitter 1350570022108860423
andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
8 Dec

After several weeks of searching for a new esports head coach, AU has filled the position. Learn more about Head Coach Matthew Burnstedt: https://andersonian.com/2020/12/08/au-hires-new-esports-head-coach/

Reply on Twitter 1336445599244292096Retweet on Twitter 13364455992442920961Like on Twitter 13364455992442920963Twitter 1336445599244292096
Retweet on TwitterAndersonian Retweeted
AURavenWatchRaven Watch@AURavenWatch·
7 Dec

Check out the new Raven Watch Podcast with former @Pacers forward Clark Kellogg (@ClarkKelloggCBS). Tune in as Clark and @jordanyaney discuss faith in sports, his career as a player and broadcaster, and his game of H.O.R.S.E against President Obama.

LINK https://andersonian.com/2020/12/07/raven-watch-2020-12-07/

Reply on Twitter 1336095317591265291Retweet on Twitter 13360953175912652918Like on Twitter 133609531759126529114Twitter 1336095317591265291
Load More...

The Andersonian, the student newspaper of Anderson University, Anderson, Ind., publishes a print edition and maintains this website. As a matter of institutional policy, the University administration does not review or edit Andersonian content prior to publication. The student editors are responsible for both print and online content. While the administration recognizes the role of the student press on a college campus and in journalism education, the views expressed in the Andersonian are not necessarily those of Anderson University.

© Andersonian 2017, All rights reserved · Site by Mere
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.