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On the last morning of our Summer Enrichment Program, we gathered to recognize the children who were aging out. Knowing they won't be back next year, and that some won't be eligible for Before and Aftercare this fall, we figured it would be an emotional sendoff, and it definitely was. "Many children were brokenhearted," says Beverly Beckles, our Youth Development Director. "The tears were profuse and prolonged, by both those leaving and those having to say goodbye. For me thi

In June, a generous supporter pledged $15,000 to Neighborhood House. There was only one catch: To unlock their gift we would need to ask our community to match it. So we shared the news, along with why the timing mattered. Like our neighbors, we were absorbing across-the-board cost increases in everything from cleaning supplies to insurance premiums, and there's only so much give in a program-intensive budget like ours. Behind the line items are kids like Jarrin, who's been

If you've spent any time trying to find a preschool in Wilmington, you already know it's harder than it should be. Delaware doesn't fund preschool the way it funds K-12. There's no universal program and no single place to apply. What exists instead is a patchwork — district programs, private providers, Head Start, co-ops that ask parents to pitch in — each with its own funding stream and eligibility rules. School districts don't receive state per-pupil dollars for preschooler

When someone believes in a cause enough to invest in it, it inspires others to do the same. We have some wonderful news. Thanks to the generosity of our matching partner, the opportunity to double your impact has been extended through July 10.

Something important is happening this month, and we'd love for you to be a part of it. A generous donor has pledged to match every gift made to Neighborhood House between now and June 30, dollar for dollar, up to $15,000.

Summer's almost here, and for kids it means freedom from homework, early alarms, and rushing out the door to catch the bus. For parents, it's a little more complicated than that. Between mid-June and late August, there's a long stretch of open time to fill — along with the very real concern that your child could lose ground academically. That concern is justified. When kids spend the summer disengaged, the effects show up in the fall. Educators call it the summer slide, the g

On Tuesday, May 5, the Neighborhood House Board of Directors approved the appointment of Jeffrey E. Benatti to serve as Interim Executive Director.

After careful consideration, the Neighborhood House Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to consolidate our operations at our community center in Wilmington’s Southbridge neighborhood. This means closing our satellite office in Middletown, where we have served families since 1992. This was not a reactive decision. It was a deliberate one, made with the long-term health of the organization in mind. Why We're Making This Change After nearly a century of service, w

For months, Jay and his wife Barbara had been living without electricity. After a series of serious medical issues landed them in the hospital, the bills piled up faster than their fixed income could handle. Their electric bill climbed past $2,900, and eventually the power was shut off. Think about what that means. No lights. No heat through the winter. No way to cook a meal. Barbara, who depends on a CPAP machine, couldn’t use it. For six months, they lived like that. When t