Meeting Needs and Building Relationships to Help Families Dream for Tomorrow
These are all DeSoto County Dream Center Elementary Education Students at the Dream Center to learn and play!
The DeSoto County Dream Center’s (DCDC) commitment to DeSoto County students and families at Title 1 Schools is a promise to families in our community who are often living on the margins. Taking time to assess the needs in our community as Jenna shared in the Letter from the Executive Director, we listened to families, teachers and principals and identified four key initiatives to address the effects of generational poverty among children by meeting urgent needs in collaboration with the schools and building long-term relationships that provide lasting educational support for students, to help build the generation to come.
Key relationships with school faculty and staff, such as Principal April Rucker of Southaven Intermediate School, essential to helping the DCDC meet students where they are, and address real needs. Principal Rucker sees the needs and the impact of the DCDC’s school support programming firsthand. “People don’t realize it, but we do have food insecurities. Every day we have kids who are stashing snacks from lunch into their bag so they can guarantee they have something to eat later,” she explained. Her school has partnered with the Dream Center for nearly three years, hosting both a DREAM Backpack Program and one of the first DREAM Closets.
Through the DREAM Backpack Program, we rely on those teachers and staff serving on the front lines in the schools to identify students in need, DREAM Backpacks are discreetly filled with easy-to-prepare, kid-friendly meals and snacks - giving children something to count on when school is out and ensuring dignity remains intact. For many children who receive free and reduced-cost breakfasts and lunches at school, knowing if they will have enough food on the weekends is an obstacle to learning.
“... if [students] can discreetly go to a teacher and pick out shoes - taking away the shame- that’s huge! We don’t want any children experiencing shame if they’re hungry or can’t afford clothes or personal hygiene items,” Principal Rucker said. Through the DREAM Closet Program, DCDC ensures that students in need have access to new clothing, personal hygiene and school supplies so that they are able to have their needs met and be able to focus on their education.
Families like Tonya’s have seen the difference these programs can make. With four kids at home, including children and an adult child with special needs, Tonya and her husband have experienced difficulty in making ends meet on a single household income. Tonya is facing significant health challenges making it so she is unable to work. “We make about $120 over the limit for food stamps, and so the DREAM Backpack program really helps us because each month I have to decide just what bill I’m not going to pay so I can put food on the table,” she shared. For her children, the healthy food and thoughtful selections have eased the burden while helping them feel cared for.
By meeting immediate needs first, DCDC helps stabilize families so they can begin working toward greater long-term stability. From there, programs like our Elementary Education and Leadership initiatives take root - providing weekly reading and math enrichment for 3rd–5th graders, homework help, and small-group leadership development for middle and high school students. These programs focus on character building, life skills, and preparing students for a successful future. As Principal Rucker noted, “The Dream Center does a great job of listening and tailoring support to the needs of the school and the families. We are hearing more and more from parents that they just don’t have that extra $30 a month for tutoring for their child, but they really want that extra support for their kids, “ she said.
At the DeSoto County Dream Center, we believe true change begins when urgent needs are met and dignity is restored—because a child who is hungry or without clothes can’t focus on learning, and a family carrying constant stress can’t imagine a brighter tomorrow. By first addressing these immediate barriers through programs like the DREAM Backpack and DREAM Closet, we create stability and open the door for deeper impact through educational enrichment, leadership development, and holistic family support.
This layered approach - meeting needs today while investing in tomorrow, helps students succeed in the classroom, strengthens families, and empowers our community to dream again. Together, with the support of our partners, schools, and families, we are not only breaking cycles of poverty but also planting seeds of hope for generations to come.