will be the site of this year’s summer program for kindergartners through eighth-graders. In its second year, the program will welcome 60 children June 17-Aug. 1. It will offer break- fast, academics and lunch at Christ, and afternoon activities, such as art and music, at the outreach center, which also has a park nearby. “It’s like summer school with a flair,” Maxon said.
Expenses are being paid, in part, by school funding, monies donated from St. Stephen, finances saved in the church merger, grants and fund- raising. The budget is enough to even hire a few teachers, in addition to the two provided by the school district, Maxon said.
The experience benefits both the
church and students, whose literacy rate is increasing, he added. They like the one-on-one attention from adults, and also like to give back to the con- gregation by helping set up tables and chairs for church events. The youngsters, he said, “melt the hearts” of church volunteers. Karoline Peeler, 65, a retired art- ist and member, has worked with the reading program for two years and finds it rewarding. “It’s a lot of fun,” said the Schnecksville resident, who drives in from the suburb to volun- teer. “The kids are sweet; they are really wonderful.” When one girl didn’t know the alphabet, volunteers stepped up to
teach her the ABCs so she would be ready to read, Peeler recalled. While the programs haven’t brought in new members, the con- gregation is OK with that. “We did it with the expectation that we would help the community,” Maxon said. “That’s why we’re the church. We have huge spaces and said, ‘Let’s use them.’ ”
Maxon’s advice to other congrega- tions who want to engage the com- munity: Just do it.
“There are so many good reasons to do it, and no reason not to do it,” he said. “There are great opportunities in any city that have great outcomes. Churches should jump in.”
For more information contact Maxon at
TriMax6200@aol.com.
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