Filling the Gaps: Bringing Hope to Every Child in DeSoto County

Letter from the Executive Director, Jenna Kern

Dear Friends,

As I look back over this past quarter, the word that keeps coming to mind is hope. I see it in a child who is leaving school with a backpack. I see it in a parent who no longer has to choose between paying a bill or putting groceries on the table. I see it in a teacher who feels supported because she knows her students are not carrying burdens alone. 

The truth is, the needs in DeSoto County are great. More than 52 percent of our students, over 18,000 children, come from families considered low income. For many of these kids, school is their safe place. It is where they find stability, meals, and a chance to dream bigger than their circumstances. But when the weekend comes or emergencies arise, too many of our neighbors are left struggling to meet basic needs like food, clothing, tutoring, and healthcare.

Title I is a federal program designed to help schools where at least 40% of students live in low-income households. These dollars fund things like extra teachers, books and technology, and intervention. What Title I does not cover are basic necessities like food, clothing, and healthcare. Those needs are often just as urgent, because a child who is hungry or without proper clothing is not ready to learn, no matter how strong the classroom support may be.

Here’s the challenge: in DeSoto County, 25 schools meet the qualifications for Title I, but only 14 actually receive the funding. That leaves thousands of children facing the same struggles without access to critical academic resources. And beyond that, Title I does nothing to address the gaps families feel most deeply at home: putting food on the table, paying for healthcare, or ensuring children have clothes that fit.

This is where the Dream Center steps in. Our mission has always been to walk alongside Title I students and their families by partnering with schools to provide weekend meals through our DREAM Backpack program, new clothing, shoes, and hygiene essentials through the DREAM Closet, education and leadership assistance that help kids succeed, and healthcare access through Trinity Health Center.

In the stories below, you will hear from principals, parents, and students whose lives are being touched by your generosity. Please take a moment to watch our short video highlighting all of the ways we’re working to restore hope and help families dream again. Their voices remind us that when immediate needs are met, doors open for learning, growth, and hope for the future.

When you give, volunteer, or partner with us, you are helping feed a student “just down the road from you” who would otherwise go hungry, provide new clothes or shoes, fund education assistance that changes a child’s academic path, and give a family access to healthcare they could not otherwise afford. Your generosity fills the gaps.

Together, we can make sure every child in DeSoto County has the chance to dream again.

With Gratitude,

Jenna Kern
Executive Director
DeSoto County Dream Center