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About A.C.O.

OVERVIEW

Allegany County Outreach (ACO) is a ministry to children run by students at Houghton College. The purpose of this outreach is to befriend children of Allegany county which suffer from spiritual, economical, physical, emotional, and / or educational deprivation. ACO focuses on bringing a positive role model into their lives, and to point them to Christ through our love.

BACKGROUND

ACO was the brain-child of a student named Virginia Forthmann. In December 1969 the student senate sponsored a Christmas party for some county children and college students.  The event was only to be a one time occurrence, but Virginia saw a need and developed a plan for a new student organization with the purpose of matching college students with young disadvantaged children in the county.  ACO became an official organization of Houghton College in 1970.

Allegany county, one of the poorest counties in the state, is an ideal location for a program that matches children with college students as ACO does.  Many children come from low income families with poor living conditions.  Divorce is also a common occurrence in this county.  Many children live with one parent or a step-parent.  The struggle of working to pay bills takes much of the parent's time away from their children.  ACO attempts to help fill in this gap with role models for the children.  The idea is for each college member of ACO to spend regular one on one time with their little brother or little sister as they are called.  By doing so, the child receives love and acceptance, while the college student learns to listen, give advice, and teach.  According to former President Jesse Crognale, the ultimate goal of ACO is to plant seeds so that the children will know the person of Jesus Christ and the love He has for each of them.

Written by Jennifer Lytle

Adapted by Jeff McMullen and Nathan Reimer

BASIC COMMITMENT REQUIREMENTS

- Call/write your little brother or little sister once a week

- Get together with your little brother or little sister once every two weeks

- Attend with your little brother and little sister monthly ACO parties

- Be a Godly example to the children and have a fun time

ACTIVITIES & SUGGESTIONS

• Take out children's books from the library and read to them or let them read to you
• Take out games from the info. center and play with them
• Go to Letchworth State Park
• Go ice skating or roller skating
• Get a pizza and have a picnic in your room on the floor
• Take them to lunch and/or dinner with you (come to the office for a free meal ticket)
• Play on the computer - drawing, painting programs
• Go for walks
• Play pool or Ping-Pong
• Go to their house
• Go swimming in the gym
• Sleep over
• Play cards - Old Maid, Go Fish, etc...
• Watch movies
• Make and/or use play dough
• Put together a puzzle
• Bake something
• Teach them how to write poetry and write some with them
• Take them to church or church activities
• Go for bike rides
• Got to a college athletic event together