“I didn’t know there was this much water in the world!” shouted Harper* as she gazed out over Niagara Falls. Harper was part of a group of six Cabbage Patch members who went on a trip to Canada as part of our Global Civic Engagement program. The Patch has long been expanding the horizons of at-risk youth with travel camps, and the trip to Ottawa further built on this programming with an educational exploration of…
Grit is defined by Merriam-Webster as “firmness of mind or spirit: unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger.” Recently, we spoke with our client, Samantha* and realized that she is a very “gritty” person. Samantha graduated with her associate’s degree in paralegal studies in the spring of 2017. Since then, she has been working very hard to find a job in that field. She received some assistance, guidance, and positive words from our…
Once a month, families gather for a Patch Parents meeting, where they share a meal and receive information and resources that help improve their quality of life. At one such meeting, tables surrounding the room were covered with books. Having collected excess book donations for several months, the Educational Opportunities staff members were able to share with the families. Parents were encouraged to take as many as they could use, and most were eager to…
When is the last time you danced in front of someone? This question might make you laugh. You might say “No one wants to see that!” But where is this reaction coming from? You might think you are not good enough. You might be comparing yourself to better dancers and thinking you have nothing to offer in terms of creativity or technique. But what if you took a chance? What if you found out…
At The Cabbage Patch, we focus on rewarding good behavior so that children develop into role models and contribute to our supportive community. Community partners help us change lives when they donate incentives that help us encourage active participation and cooperation. It’s not all just “fun and games!” Structured program participation is a key goal we have for each child. It is through these programs that lives are profoundly changed. Louisville Lodge 400 Free and…
It is such a thrill to see our Cabbage Patch scholars graduate college! Many of them have been part of The Cabbage Patch for years, and it’s been our honor to see their accomplishments, both big and small, that have led them on a path to success. All graduates are pictured with Mayghin Levine, Manager of Educational Opportunities, who provides ongoing support to scholars throughout their college experience. Larome Dickerson- Graduated with a BS in…
This Derby season, don’t forget to plan something for the kids! We’ve been working on lots of projects at The Patch that you can do at home. Derby Hats What you need: Plastic or paper bowls, pie tins, newspaper, paint, glue, tape and embellishments like sequins, feathers, etc. Cover the bowl or pie tin with glue and smooth newspaper over it. Use several layers with glue in between to get the look you want. A…
Almost any Cabbage Patch alumnus will tell you that once you are a Patcher, you are a Patcher for life! Our staff members frequently seek out former members to see how they are doing, and we find many success stories along the way. One amazing role model is recently graduated Cabbage Patch College Scholar Evan Packer who, after completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky, is now in a Master’s program at George…
Childhood experiences, both positive and negative, have a tremendous impact on future violence victimization and perpetration, and lifelong health and opportunity. As such, early experiences are an important public health issue. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) survey puts a numeric score on the collective negative experience, with the number escalating according to the amount of trauma. Our staff administers this survey to our Patch Parents, and recently asked the Board of Directors to take it…
