Difference-maker for Henrico middle-schoolers started with a 'Spark'

Local mom Amber Lancaster was inspired to make a difference in her community after seeing many kids with nothing to do during the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, she created a non-profit to help kids have a chance to participate more in afterschool activities.

“For a community as well-to-do as the Richmond region, no kid who wants to join a school activity should be kept out because they can't afford to rent an instrument, or buy track shoes, or provide their drama costume,” Lancaster said of the obstacles that can come when paying for students’ activities.

Her creation – Start 1 Spark – is a nonprofit that serves Henrico and Chesterfield middle school students, providing necessities they need to be successful in after school activities.

The organization has a specific focus on middle schools; its efforts began with a partnership with John Rolfe Middle School in Varina in the fall of 2021, a few months after its official launch.

“Henrico identified that John Rolfe was the right school to partner with and that’s how we ended up with the Jaguars,” Lancaster said. “Our goal is to be able to add a middle school each year and become a full regional organization, but that is contingent on raising more funds.”

The only requirements for middle schools to participate in the program is that 60% to 70% of their students must qualify for economic assistance.

Rolfe Principal Darryl Johnson has only been at the school a short time but said the non-profit has been a game-changer for students.

“It’s really about providing extra access,” he said. “For some, extracurriculars’ finances are a barrier. Amber provided kids with the opportunity to even be able to try out.”

More than 165 athletes at Rolfe alone have been supported by Spark 1.

“We didn’t lose a basketball game – being able to allow more people to try out allowed us to have a more robust team,” Johnson said.

Rolfe’s musical director, Amaris Franklin, has seen the changes Lancaster has made at the school since the very beginning.

“A lot of people say they want to help but don’t follow through or only help one time and that’s it, but Lancaster was very persistent and that’s how we started to get the relationship we had,” Franklin said. "I hope she’s able to expand this non-profit and do the same thing she’s doing here at other schools – we could all use the extra hand and extra help."

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To learn more or make a contribution to Start 1 Spark, visit start1spark.org. To volunteer with the organization, click here.