Every afternoon, Jaron Carter, the president of Brothers United Celebrating Knowledge and Success, plays games with children at a local computer lab. Carter's not goofing off -- he's working toward fulfilling the goals of B.U.C.K.S.
The mission of B.U.C.K.S. is "to educate its members and give them a sense of pride and motivation by teaching some of the myriad of contributions which Blacks in America have made throughout the history of this country."
Founded in 1997 by a group of seven friends, B.U.C.K.S. devotes several programs and projects to fulfilling these aspirations. The organization has three community outreach chairs, one who works on the mentoring program My Brother's Keeper, and two who work on the B.U.C.K.S. lab program.
In the lab program, B.U.C.K.S. volunteers go to a local computer lab every day to play games with and work as positive role models for younger children.
"The organization is great, we reach out to the community in so many ways, and I'm so grateful to be a part of it," said third-year College student Nancy Martin, who serves as community outreach chair of B.U.C.K.S. lab.
This month, B.U.C.K.S. is putting on a canned food drive to benefit the Charlottesville Food Bank. The twist: The drive is a competition between various CIOs. Among the competing organizations are Sustained Dialogue, the NAACP and Watson Dormitory. B.U.C.K.S.'s goal is to obtain 2005 cans, in honor of the Class of 2005.
"The food drive has been going really well, and all the CIOs have been great," Martin said. "I think that making the canned food drive a competition has gotten everyone excited and has resulted in more donations of cans."
Carter said the organization is "unlike any other organization on Grounds" because of its mission.
"Our goals are important, and we are necessary in this community because I don't think that black men have the support that they need," he said.
According to Carter, the organization's goals are extremely important and affect everyone.
"B.U.C.K.S. has definitely been a rewarding experience for me and, I think, for all involved," Carter said. "I think everything we're doing is great, and I think we're definitely helping the people who need it, being a positive force in the community."
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