McCoy Middle School teacher Sally Layendecker helps Latroy Pittman with his sentences at the Boys and Girls Club on SW 7th Street in Ocala Tuesday afternoon. Layendecker drives from Ft. McCoy after school to help tutor students at the club that needs the help. Layendecker is also the lead teacher for the Learning Center at the club. Faced with problems including hard drugs, violence and a rising juvenile crime rate, a growing number of children and parents have to ask for help.
Help is out there.
Marion County has more than 30 programs geared specifically toward youths, ranging from the programs that provide after-school activities to shelters for homeless children, according to United Way information. But before children can be helped by these programs, in most cases someone must ask for assistance. Howard Middle School Teacher Kevin Carlton helps Antoinette Rackard with her math while Rackard learns to count by two's. Rackard was getting tutored at the Learning Center at the Boys and Girls Club in Ocala on SW 7th Street. Many of the people who need assistance contact First Call For Help, a United Way-funded organization that refers people to programs in the county, said Roseann Fricks, director of information and referral for the organization.