Walk the Talk—Stopping Crime

Like many others, I have become alarmed by the number of criminal incidents that are happening around the Bel Air area. If you haven't heard, in the past week headlines told of a woman was , three , a man was , Bel Air's Pharmacy was and at gunpoint. These recent events have left those of us who have always felt relatively safe to ask "What is Going On?"

For a long time the thoughts were that those things happened "over there" in those bad neighborhoods, not in Bel Air. There are plenty of places to point the finger—high unemployment, drop in aid programs, peer pressure and more. Often the blame is laid on kids and young men from areas known for drugs, gangs and violence, low income, single family households where kids have very little supervision or direction, and many without positive male role models. Is there anything or anybody out there trying to take control of this situation and trying to make a difference?

Thankfully the answer is yes! Extreme Family Outreach is out in these communities making a difference in the lives of children and adults and making Harford County a better place. I came across Extreme Family Outreach when I was searching for a part time job to supplement my income and began working with them as a grants researcher.

Extreme Family Outreach is an organization that goes out into areas recommended by the where there are many at risk elementary and junior high kids where there are no positive activities to occupy their after school time. Vans show up on a regular schedule during spring and fall months, tarps are laid in a public area, a sound system is pulled out and the fun begins!

Using magic, balloons, games and contests, Extreme Family Outreach builds character and teaches lessons to these vulnerable kids. Prizes are incentive-based and if you don't follow the rules you aren't allowed to attend, but there is no cost for any child that participates. Over a semester the behavior of the children begins to change. There is more cooperation, mutual respect, non-violent ways to resolve conflicts.

Even some parents lives have been changed by this organization. After weeks of watching their grandchild go out to take part in the activites, an addicted mom became curious and ventured out to see what it was all about. That person not only stayed around, but is now clean, working and volunteering with Extreme Family Outreach. They are truly changing lives. Extreme Family Ourteach also has several other events throughout the year, including their Back To School Bash where they hand out school supplies, their Harvest of Hope where they hand out complete Thanksgiving dinners to the families of the kids, and Christmas and Easter parties complete with Santa and the Easter Bunny.

Extreme Family Ourteach can only provide these services with financial support from the community and this Saturday you too can help this organization continue their work. Their 2nd Annual Walk-a-thon will be held Saturday, May 21st at Lake Serene on Brookside Drive, Edgewood, MD 21040. Round up some sponsors and go for a quick walk around the lake and help make a difference. A sponsorship form is available at their website at www.extremefamilyourteach.org. Extreme Family Outreach also welcomes donations and sponsors of any amount. The children you help Extreme Family Outreach to reach will have a better chance to be successful in life and not be the ones making crime headlines in Bel Air tomorrow.