Needy Kids In Virginia Get Supplied for School

September 06, 2013

About 47,000 students in Fairfax County, Virginia, do not have the money for school supplies, says the nonprofit, Collect for Kids.

Welcome to American Mosaic from VOA Learning English.

I’m June Simms.

On the show today, we play new music from two singer-songwriters.

We also tell about a campaign to collect school supplies for needy children.

But first, we knock out a report about a program for young boxers.

Lime Lite Gym

Almost 20 percent of Washingtonians are extremely poor. They live in neighborhoods where crime and violence are usual. Many organizations have community programs to try to improve conditions. Christopher Cruise tells about one of them.

Washington, DC can be a dangerous town.

And it does not get any easier here, at Lime Lite Boxing and Fitness.

Tony Simmons is the founder of the training center for young fighters. The group provides young boxers with everything they need for the sport.

He says the trainers also provide fatherly spirit and guidance for some of the children.

“Some kids don’t have fathers at home or uncles…so we take kind of take on the role of an added parent. Like they say: it takes a village.”

The coach has some rules for those who want to be part of the boxing program. The children must have average or better than average scores in school. They also are not permitted to fight outside of boxing centers.