DeKalb County offers various resources to anyone with the desire to get out into the community.

Mentoring, education assistance and childcare programs are readily available to everyone — especially college students — on both NIU’s website as well as DeKalb County’s. One place to consider if anyone is looking to get involved in helping grade school through high school students is Neighbor’s House, 403 N. Fifth St.

Kyle White, founder of Neighbors’ House, former youth pastor and Wisconsin native started the program seven years ago.

“I came and saw a need in the community,” White said.

Through his vision he has started to connect with communities from DeKalb, Sycamore, Genoa and more in hopes of expanding. Neighbors’ House is a not-for-profit, faith-based community development organization with the desire to help students as well as families fulfill their potential within the aspects of academic and relational success.

“I had an idea of what the program would be, which I thought would be neat and tidy but we learned we had to listen to see what people really needed,” White said.

Within the foundation of Neighbors’ House, several programs have been started strictly for the enhancement of educational stimulus within grade school as well as high schools.

Among the programs is a summer refresher program, which is five weeks of math, life skills and goal setting. One recently promoted program is the homework help night, where students can come to get extra help with their studies with a staff composed of tutors.

The staff has been targeting low-income apartment complexes to have reading and homework workshops and as a result has gotten an increase in student involvement.

“Our vision changed,” White said. “We began to build trust with people and students by being able to meet parents and grandparents who encourage academic help.”

The staff at Neighbors’ House said it reached more kids than expected. As a team, the main goal is having the desire to reach all kids no matter what level their on.

“Neighbors’ House is a place where kids can go that need help with their school work,” said Mila Kvasnicka, student at Neighbors’ House. “Sometimes their parents may not know anything.”

Neighbor’s House also provides relief while providing tutors.

“Sixth grade is hard, but I love coming here, it’s fun,” Kvasnicka said.

Many of the volunteers were college students who were looking for a place to volunteer, and have the urge to help out the kids.

“I came for the orientation and knew this is where I wanted to spend my Tuesday and Thursday nights helping out the kids,” said Natasha Bates, sophomore Accounting major.

Neighbors’ House has its homework help nights but also takes a little time after tutoring to play games or do arts and crafts. It hopes to branch off with the homework help nights and plans on having fund raisers to help support other activities for the students. Dec. 4 from Noon to 8 p.m. Neighbors’ House is teaming up with Barnes & Noble for a fund raiser, which includes live music, tutoring and activities for students.

Volunteers at Neighbors’ House want to encourage others to join its efforts.

“I continue to come to Neighbors’ House because I want to instill a since of motivation and hope,” Bates said. “I’m here to help them succeed.”