Fighting for the Future - At-Risk Students Earn Holiday Meals

The futures of 850 kids are being changed today. Boys and girls from San Clemente to Stanton are literally being pulled from the clutches of gangs as they enjoy the rewards of staying in school and out of gangs. Today, these students are getting ready to enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal, earned by their hard work and dedication. These students are part of the Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership (GRIP) — a coalition of the Orange County District Attorney’s office, the Orange County Sheriff, Saddleback Church, Ralph’s grocery store, and other local organizations.

GRIP was created four years ago by the Orange County District Attorney’s office to reach kids who are at risk for being lured into gangs. By reaching them at a young age, the partnership keeps them in school and off the streets, literally redirecting the course of their lives from likely criminal activity to one where they have the chance to pursue education and success.

It has been estimated that 90% of at-risk kids do not have any aspirations or dreams of a specific career field. These children often come from families with hard-working parents, some of whom work up to three jobs. As a result, the parents do not have the time or ability to keep their kids from associating with gangs. Kids join gangs because they look to find connection with each other, even though they know the threat of rival gang violence.

The District Attorney created GRIP because they wanted to avoid putting young kids in jail. Instead, they wanted to provide another option — a chance to rise above their circumstances and have the ability to pursue their dreams.

And what dreams these students have! At an elementary school in Mission Viejo, GRIP members held an award ceremony to honor the school’s GRIP students. The boys and girls proudly stood in front of the room with their families by their side to receive a frozen turkey, frozen pies, sides, and more. As each student held the grocery bag of food they had earned, Tracy Rinauro, the Assistant District Attorney in charge of G.R.I.P., asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. The answers varied — teacher, police officer, soccer player, and doctor — but one thing is clear. This program gives them the tools to make these dreams a reality.

Alicia, once inattentive and impulsive in class, is now a top grade earner who wants to be a veterinarian. Joshua, once a frequent visitor to the principal's office, hasn’t been for a visit to the office all year, and he wants to be a police officer.

“I’ve been a probation officer or supervisor for about 17 years," says Adam Caselles, Supervising Probation Officer. "A lot of us [officers] got into law enforcement in the first place to try to help people. Part of our job is to protect the community, but as a probation office, our job starts when they get out of prison.

“We reach kids before they’re in gangs because, once a kid is in a gang it’s really tough for them to get out. They’ve been jumped in, and they’ve made commitments. So it’s vital to catch them before they join.

“The GRIP program is effective because kids love positive attention; they thrive on it. That’s what [GRIP] is.”

Through GRIP, officers are regularly checking in with students to hear about their grades, behavior, and attendance. And, if the students maintain perfect attendance and good grades, they are rewarded with special things like a day at the Angels stadium, a private party at Ford Motor Company, and a full Thanksgiving meal for their family.

“The GRIP program is dedicating resources towards keeping kids from entering the [prison] system, which is what we’re seeing here today,” says Chris Bieber, Chief Deputy Probation Officer. “It’s hard to describe how cool this is for us. By impacting these kids in third, fourth, and fifth grade, we start to see long-term results. We’re already seeing a decline in juvenile arrests, because of programs like GRIP. GRIP works because the parents and kids see that people are dedicated to them and that they care. They get rewards for good behavior. It might seem like a small to deal to us, but it’s a big deal to them.”

But this story is about more than good grades or rewards. It’s about the future. Every rise in a report card grade and increase in attendance means that child is that much more likely to stay in school and out of gangs. Staying out of gangs means they have a chance at a fulfilling future, instead of ending up behind bars for drugs, violence, or worse.

Children as young as third and fourth grade are actively recruited by gangs. These gang members know that children who commit crimes are given more lenient sentences, so they’re groomed at an early age. Once a child is lured into a gang, it is exponentially more difficult to bring them back to a place where they can be reached.

Saddleback Church has been working with GRIP for two years because we love our community. We believe every child deserves to have access to education and protection from the lure of gangs. Countless Saddleback volunteers have served with GRIP since its inception, packing Thanksgiving meals, escorting students to special events, and showing up to honor students at the awards ceremonies. Together with GRIP, we are showing at-risk students in Orange County that they are loved and valued.

As another student bounds up to the stage to receive her hard-earned Thanksgiving meal, she is trailed by her two younger sisters. The two young girls look up in admiration at their sister as the principle praises her for perfect attendance and grades. These children now have a role model that they can follow . . . they, too, are now being positively affected by the GRIP program. Their futures are being changed today, too.

Click HERE to learn more about Saddleback’s Local PEACE ministry and GRIP.