Quota Supports and Celebrates Children

Climates, cultures, and geography may change drastically around the globe, but what we want for our children is a constant: food, shelter, education, safety, and the opportunity to enjoy and express themselves through play. Quota clubs worldwide have recognized that meeting these needs requires the support not only of the family, but also the community, and responded with successful child-focused service projects. No matter the languages these children speak, the resulting smiles communicate in a universal message of happiness and hope for the future.

From tricycles to arts-and-crafts to promoting school and safety, these service stories show Quota's commitment to youth around the world.

CANADA
A Picture-Perfect Day for Children of Barrie

PHILIPPINES
Quota Shares School Spirit in Manila

UNITED STATES
Ensuring Safety in East Memphis

Canton Quotarians Support Stark County Schools

CANADA
A Picture-Perfect Day for Children of Barrie

No community would be complete without the children who infuse it with energy, hope, and laughter, so a community day without them wouldn't be much of a celebration! That's why Quotarians in Barrie, Ontario, chose to participate in Celebrate Barrie Day in a very special way last year. They set up a booth where children could both engage in a community event and leave with a keepsake: a photo-frame station. Their Quota banner proudly displayed, Barrie Quotarians assembled stickers, popsicle sticks, beads, felt, and other supplies in preparation for the children's arrival.

Several hours later, Quotarians had met over 400 children in the community, helping them decorate their frames and encouraging their inventiveness. At the end of the day, children were still at the station, patiently waiting their chance to make a picture frame—a sign of true success. The day gave Quota publicity and Barrie members an opportunity to work together…and the chance to provide their community's children with a much deserved celebration.

PHILIPPINES
Quota Shares School Spirit in Manila

Tents scattered across a basketball court became home to about 300 families in Taguig, Metro Manila, when a fire razed a Muslim community there last August. The children were models of resilience, refusing to allow destroyed homes and uncertain futures to get in the way of their education. Although their spirits were strong, they lacked resources: their school had been burned, their teachers displaced, and their books and supplies destroyed.

Manila Quotarians matched the children's determination. They donated school supplies, organized makeshift classrooms, and volunteered to teach children English, reading, and arithmetic. In spite of sweltering heat and poor ventilation, club members and children worked together to ensure that their schooling was not disrupted while they await the construction of new classrooms. By reaching out and sharing across cultural and religious boundaries, Quotarians and this community have built a bridge that serves as a model for others and will only grow stronger in the months to come.

UNITED STATES
Ensuring Safety in East Memphis

Each year the nightmares of 1.5 million parents are realized: their children disappear from their homes. However, measures like photo IDs, child-tracking databases, and education can prevent abduction and aid in finding a child. In Memphis, Tennessee, the Commission for Missing and Exploited Children (COMEC) provides that programming at no charge, but reaching out to tens of thousands of families requires additional community support.

That's where Quota International of Memphis comes in. This year, the club provided a donation that will support additional COMEC programming, including finger-printing and database maintenance. In addition, members assisted at the annual Mid-South Fair, where COMEC ran a booth to provide photo IDs to local children. Quotarians worked at the booth, helping families complete forms, taking measurements and weights, and making the actual IDs. By the end of the day, hundreds of families had passed through the booth, and thanks to Quota, were able to return home to sleep more safely and soundly than before.

UNITED STATES
Canton Quotarians Support Stark County Schools

Quotarians in Canton, Ohio, believe that every child should have access to the resources and support they need to develop and enjoy childhood. Their conviction is the foundation of their relationship with Eastgate Early Childhood Family Center and its sister school, Rebecca Stallman Southgate School, both of which operate under the Stark County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. These schools have received nearly U.S.$3,000 in adaptive equipment from the Canton club, allowing them to provide children with the educational and social opportunities they need.

Five year-old Tristan Broom is one of the club's brightest success stories. A student at Eastgate diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, he had never been able to enjoy one of childhood's simplest pleasures: a tricycle ride. However, once Quota purchased a special Angeles Silver Rider Tricycle for Eastgate, he didn't spin his wheels! Today, Tristan zips around the gym on the new trike. Thanks to Quota, Tristan and his friends can enjoy childhood—full speed ahead.

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