Woodbine received funds from the Iowa Department of Economic Development for housing rehabilitation for eligible owner-occupied households. The program can provide up to $25,000 for eligible households to bring their residence up to Iowa Minimum Housing Rehabilitation Standards. Examples of common assistance include electrical, heating, plumbing, roof, windows, siding, insulation, etc.
Team Mates of Woodbine, a mentoring program for our youth, was initiated as a result of the Horizons Program. The goal set back in January 2007 was to have six mentors matched to six mentees with one week visits during the school day. At the end of the 2007-2008 school year Woodbine Team Mates can boast having reached a goal of 18 mentors matched to 18 mentees. Already the Team Mates volunteers have their goal set for 2008-2009 school year with 28 mentors and 28 mentees. A partnership with the Woodbine Schools as well as generous support from the Optimist Club, Kiawanis, Methodist men’s group, the Christian Church and private donors have helped make this a very successful program. These local contributions will continue to be an important resource for the program since an Iowa Department of Public Health grant application applied for was not received. Sarah Cox, a teacher at Woodbine, volunteers as one of the mentors. “It’s been very rewarding to watch the communications skills and confidence grow throughout the year,” Cox said. “All the students in TeamMates take great pride in it. They seem more comfortable talking with adults in the building, and it gives them another source of help with either studies or social issues. They just seem happier to be in school,” she concluded.