The Social and Ecumenical Ministries Committee of the Presbytery of WV has awarded a grant of $3000 to the Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church After School Program in Elkins.
This ministry seeks to reach out to children of working parents to provide a safe accepting place for the children during the after school hours. Working together with the Randolph Co. Board of Education, buses transport the 15 enrolled students from four elementary schools to the church each afternoon. With a staff of one full time Director, part time Assistant Activities Director and part time tutor this grant will enable our program to hire a qualified tutor who can better assess our students’ educational needs. Ashley Pugh, senior education major at Davis & Elkins College will have the opportunity to work with the children each afternoon through the Federal Work study program of the college and grant money from the SEMC.
We are thankful for the generous donations of snacks from our congregation but we are limited in our ability to make healthy choices for our children. Fresh fruits and vegetables may be expensive so we welcome the opportunity to provide a variety of nutritional foods for our students. Every Friday is “cooking day” at the program and he children look forward to preparing their own snack in the church kitchen! It is important to us that the students learn healthy lifestyle choices of good eating habits and exercise. Our city park, behind the church, offers plenty of outdoor fun after homework is done.
The biggest concern of our program was to be able to assist low-income families either through full or partial scholarships. Our Davis Memorial church family has provided support through their individual gifts to sponsor children. With this grant we are able to expand our ability to offer assistance to many more families. The program places emphasis on community awareness and mission. The children were invited and accompanied by church member and D & E trustee Joyce Allen to spend an afternoon at Davis & Elkins College. They visited the Booth Library for story time; the dining hall for ice cream; and a special visit to President “Buck” Smith’s office
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The students decorated collection boxes for the Presbyterian Women’s “Faces of Faith” and “Hat and Mitten” projects. They filled two shoeboxes for the “Operation Christmas Child and encourage recycling in the church with their recycle bins.
The students delighted in the opportunity to learn to play chess when Mr. Rick Varchetto, retired teacher, visited the program for several weeks. A nurse from the Randolph County Health Dept. spent an afternoon teaching the children the importance of keeping our bodies healthy and food collected for our local animal shelter was greatly received during our recent visit.
The Social and Ecumenical Committee of the Presbytery of West Virginia strives to equip congregations to do social and ecumenical ministries within their local communities and their church and to provide support to these ministries. Our ministry at Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church in Elkins is grateful for the grant received and will, with God’s help, continue to help the children of the After School program to grow up to be responsible, caring adults.