Non-profit tutoring in Tulare giving kids the help they need

TULARE, Calif. (KFSN) -- A non-profit tutoring program in Tulare is winning over parents, community members, and school officials. But they need to sell more tickets for their upcoming fundraiser to continue doing so.

Inside a big, beautiful, nearly 100-year-old Tulare home there's plenty of room for children to learn and grow. It's Grandma's House, grandma being Flora Johnson who retired in 2007 after 30 years in education.

"You're old enough to retire, but you're too young to do nothing. What are you going to do for 20 years? So I started kicking that around and I thought about Grandma's House."

They were humble beginnings, working out of a two bedroom, 800 square foot house. They then moved into the more spacious Blackstone Street location with the help of community members and foundations.

After-school tutoring sessions run Tuesday through Thursday for K through sixth grade.

At no cost to parents, Grandma's House has been a blessing for Margaret Pereez. Three of her children currently attend the school.

"They're real caring of what your child needs help with. They're not just here for money or anything, they're actually doing it for free. And that's what I love about it, they're passionate at what they want to do to help the children."

"And we're showing them possibilities, sometimes when you live in one setting you only have one view. But at Grandma's House we try to open a window so they can see all the opportunities, all the possibilities of what they could become," said Johnson.

When children step inside Grandma's House, Johnson said they're coming into a safe, open environment. Where they'll be instructed, and nurtured.

Johnson said there's more to come in Tulare, and also wants the Grandma's House model to spread to other cities. They still need the support of community members at events like their eighth annual fundraiser on October 1st.

For more information on how to buy tickets or volunteer at Grandma's House click here.