Target Hunger provides one of the few safe havens for enrichment activities for kids in Houston’s Fifth Ward community.  According to the 2008 United Way Community Assessment, 25% of Houstonians who were surveyed are concerned with the lack of neighborhood-based activities for youth outside of regular school hours.  Our program focuses on social enrichment, building stronger family units, and addressing issues by providing individual and family counseling.  

Target Hunger’s Youth Development Program consists of two components:  the Recognizing Individual Success in Everyone (R.I.S.E.) After-School Enrichment Program and the Healthy Me Summer Enrichment Program. 
The Target Hunger R.I.S.E. After-School Enrichment Program, which targets at-risk/troubled girls ages 11-16, provides students the opportunity to engage in meaningful activities in a safe environment. This program focuses on developing girls to their full potential, building stronger families, and creating safer neighborhoods.  The program operates daily between the hours of 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm during the school year.  Students work on homework, attend tutorials, and participate in extracurricular activities such as arts and crafts and dance.  Students also receive an afternoon snack.

The Target Hunger Healthy Me Summer Enrichment Program, which targets at-risk/troubled children and youth ages 6 -13, provides a safe environment for eight weeks in the summer.  During this program, youth receive a nutritious lunch and snack, participate in a weekly reading program, and bi-monthly field trips.  The program concentrates on developing healthy self-images in children and youth.  Sessions on friendship, self-love, choosing role models, being a role model, goal setting, and career goals are designed to bolster participants’ self-esteem; while educating them on how to make healthy choices in life.  The summer program also educates youth on health and safety.   Issues such as personal hygiene, stranger danger, substance abuse prevention, alcohol abuse, fire safety, and water safety are discussed.  In addition to developing these social and life skills, Target Hunger offers youth the opportunity to participate in extracurricular enrichment activities such as dance, drum lessons, choir/chorus, cheerleading, and gymnastics.  The program operates daily between the hours 8:00 am to 4:00 pm during the summer.