Served on the northern side of the cafeteria by about eight ROC staff members were several breakfast items likely to tempt even the most birdlike appetites.  Pigs in a blanket, tortilla chips and cheese dip, ham and cheese on poppy seed slider buns, fruit and vegetable plates, croissants, cupcakes, cookies, pinwheels and a great deal more. A blue fruit punch proved thirst-quenching.

Executive Director Judy Watson described the Kids on the Go program and also provided a sense of what is on the horizon for ROC in the months to come.  “They go out. They do. They're involved in the community, and they do a lot of things,” she said.  The summertime program has been resumed this year after a period of not being provided.

ROC is about to see construction begin to overhaul former immigrant labor housing on North Hazel not far from Arkansas State Police headquarters.  “The name of that is Next Step,” Watson said.  “It's for youth age 18 to 24 who are transitioning into adulthood, and we're going to train them how to function in adulthood on their own, help them reach their goals. So we're getting ready to start that up.”

Watson said she has been told that construction will be a nine-month process. The timing is lucky, she said.  “We're actually working with the state on a funding source and that kind of thing, which is not going to kick off until after the first of the year.”

Scott Jester, ROC’s Public Relations officer further detailed what children in the Kids-on-the-Go program participate in and who is eligible to join it.  “One of their biggest is a fundraiser. It's a bake sale fundraiser held downtown every summer, and that provides funds for their activities. They go to movies, libraries. They'll go travel a little bit to small entertainment parks or activity parks that they can go to around the area. … It's open to those that are interested in joining. Just call Rainbow of Challenges at 1-870-777-4501, and ask for the Kids on the Go program, and we'll hook you right up.”