The CARing Kids program forms the main portion of the CARing Project. CARing seeks to build self-esteem and provide role models to the elementary school children of Langley Park. This program pairs each child one-on-one with a university student, who is their "buddy" for the semester. Through play and activities, CARing buddies focus on developing the children's language, reading, and math as well as their self-image and social abilities.
 

The children come from a multi-cultural community. Unfortunately, the neighborhood is marked by high unemployment, language barriers, gang violence, drugs, and poverty. Each semester, there are 20 children who are selected to participate in CARing. The children are in second through sixth grades at Langley Park- McCormick Elementary School, and are chosen by Pr. Rosario Hernandez-Cruz, Pastor of La Sagrada Familia (The Holy Family) Lutheran Mission in Langley Park.
 

The program is staffed by Pastor Ray Ranker, Lutheran chaplain at UMCP, a student peer minister who has had extensive previous involvement with CARing, and a Lutheran Volunteer Corps volunteer. Each semester, there can be up to 24 students from UMCP who volunteer to be a buddy with a child or help out with the program in other ways. 
 

For more information on CARing Kids, or to sign up to be a buddy, please contact us at lutheran@umd.edu