There are more than 113,000 children in Clark County who don’t know when their next meal will be. Imagine what other basic needs they may lack. Serenity Bailey doesn’t have to. Every school day, she helps meet a broad range of life challenges facing more than 700 students at Walter Long Elementary in Las Vegas.
Serenity is a Site Coordinator for Communities In Schools of Nevada (CIS), a non-profit organization dedicated to doing whatever it takes to help students stay in school and succeed in school. CIS believes education can free children from poverty and empower them to reach their full potential.
“I’m a full-time problem solver,” Serenity said. “I’m the point person at Long who provides just about anything students may need. Even if they just need someone to talk to, I’m here for them.
“Many of the kids we help live below the poverty line in small, very expensive extended-stay hotel rooms,” she continued. “Many have large families. Some live with more than one family. And if the rent isn’t paid, they get kicked out.”
Serenity coordinates the delivery of food, clothing and hygiene items, as well as academic, economic and emotional support services – all provided through CIS. She also distributes Serving Our Kids (SOK) weekend meal bags.
“When adults don’t get enough to eat, we get ‘hangry,’” Serenity explained. “We can’t function well until we get a food fix. Imagine how kids feel, being that hungry, but not being able to do anything about it.
“When kids don’t get enough to eat, they start missing school,” she continued. “They won’t pay attention and focus on academics. They have behavior problems.
“If all of that gets better because they’re getting a weekend meal bag, that’s a good thing,” Serenity said. “The students look forward to it. All of them come to school on Friday when the bags arrive. It’s a big motivator.”
Last year, Long Elementary received 35 SOK weekend meal bags each week. This year it’s 80. And Serenity believes the need is even greater.
“I know more than 80 kids need weekend meal bags,” she continued. “But some parents won’t accept them because they don’t want people to know they need assistance. And the kids don’t want their classmates to know.
“But the meal bags are extremely important because that may be the only food those kids get on weekends,” she added. “Some kids don’t wait for the weekend. They start eating before they leave school.”
Serenity believes the Serving Our Kids weekend meal bags enhance many of the nutritional, educational and emotional support services CIS delivers to Long Elementary and elsewhere in Las Vegas valley. And CIS has become an important ally in SOK’s crusade against child hunger.
“I have a great relationship with Serving Our Kids,” she said. “Their volunteer delivery drivers are amazing. We have great conversations. They bring their pets and kids along. There’s a real bond between us because we’re all doing something to help the kids.”
Serenity admits her job can be tough but rewarding.
“I have three kids and three nieces and nephews, and I know they’ll get enough to eat,” she said. “But there are so many students here with so many needs and I wish I just could fix it all.
“But I love what I do,” Serenity said. “I work with a great team and we’re all doing whatever we can to help. And every time I see a kid smile, it’s worth it. It means a lot to them to know somebody cares.”