By Sam Gilkey
For the News-Gazette

By 3 p.m. each school day, the first of some 15 students start arriving at the Hopkins Community Center on East 17th Street in St. Cloud.

They are coming in to talk, play, do their homework and then enjoy a meal or snack together before continuing on to their homes.

The after-school program has been a fixture of the center for many years, according to Demetrius Chappell, a recreation supervisor for the St. Cloud Parks and Recreation Department.

Chappell, who grew up in Kissimmee, worked with the Osceola School District for 10 years.

“I’ve been with the city for eight years,” he said recently in the center’s kitchen where he prepared food for the group who would be coming in. “And I’ve been out here for the same time. I took over from the person who ran it for several years.”

“Twice a week we do a meal for the kids. The other days they get a snack to eat,” Chappell said. “Once they get here we make sure their homework is done before they get anything to eat. We regularly check their school grades to see what they need to be doing and how they are doing in school.”

Chappell said he believes the program does help improve grades.

“One of the students goes to St. Cloud High and was doing poorly last year. But he came back this year and told us he planned on doing better. He had F’s and D’s last year, but this year he is on the Honor Roll.”

Chappell and the five part-timers on his staff sit down with the kids and go over their homework taking time to explain, as best they can, how to approach the work. They sit at tables in the main room or work at one of the computers in a side room.

The meal or snack comes from whatever is in the pantry. Some items have to be purchased, but Chappell hopes to be able to bring in fresh foods from a small garden at the back of the building.

“We have planted squash, carrots, peppers and cucumbers,” he said, “and plan on using them in our meals to give the kids something that is healthier.”

Recently, St. Cloud Cares, a group of five local churches that are providing supplemental weekend food for local elementary school children, has given the center some items.

“Our mission at St. Cloud Cares is to stop hunger in St. Cloud,” said Karrie Haskett, of Canoe Creek Christian Church, one of the participating congregations. “Mr. Chappell shares that vision and we are happy to support his efforts by sending the community center food that we cannot use.”

Osceola County gave the Hopkins Center property to St. Cloud in 1988. Recently, a lot on the west side of the building was acquired and will be developed in the future.

In addition to the building, the 5-acre park has two pavilions, two playgrounds, a basketball court and a ball field.

“The building is very old,” Chappell said. “We continue to pray someone will help us get a newer, bigger building.”

“There are days I am disappointed when I feel I haven’t done enough,” he admitted. “But the best part of the job is knowing I have touched someone’s life. I can’t reach every one of the kids who come in, but to say I can touch one and that one goes on and helps out someone else and that one tells another and so forth––it gives me a warm feeling, especially when they come back and tell their story.”

“Our slogan is: Hopkins Park One Park Many Futures,” Chappell said. “With the help of the community and others those futures can be met. In high school and college, I was a running back. Now you have a former football player who is a cheerleader.”