Vacant parsonage hosts free after-school program

GREEN SPRINGS — When Eve Alloway was a little girl, she enjoyed attending the after-school program hosted by Calvary United Methodist Church in Green Springs.

So she was excited when her grandsons brought home a flier inviting area kids to the church’s after-school program this year.

“I called Beverly (Gilbert) and asked her if it was the same thing, and she said yes,” Alloway said.

Now Alloway’s grandsons, Brayden Heabler, 6, and Alex Rodriguez, 5, visit the MAD (Make a Difference) House once a week for a free, Christian-based after-school program.

“We live right in town, so it’s close and it’s free,” Alloway said. “I’ve known them for years. They do a good job.”

The MAD House program is run by Gilbert, Kay Lutz and Bobbi Scofield. It is held in the large, homey parsonage next to the church. Because the home isn’t needed as a parsonage, it became the perfect place for the kids.

“We were brainstorming because all of our kids in the church had grown up,” Lutz said.

The children who participate in the program attend other churches on Sundays, Lutz said, but this program fills a midweek empty spot.

“There are no after-school programs here in Green Springs, so we thought there was a need,” Lutz said.

Parents are welcome to drop their children off or stay and observe the program. When the children arrive, they are given a snack and then taught a short Bible lesson, which is followed by a question-and-answer session. When they answer a question, they receive a piece of candy. After that, the kids make a craft relating to the lesson.

On a recent day, the lesson was from the book of Genesis.

“We’re learning about the beginning of time and Creation,” Lutz said. “One of the most beautiful things God created was a butterfly, so we’re making butterflies.”

The children said they had fun learning about Adam and Eve.

“I learned they ate the forbidden fruit,” Schlosser said.

“I like that we get to learn a lot,” said Aliyannah Garza, 8.

Aubrey Spencer, 8, said her favorite part of attending the MAD House is making crafts.

When they left, the children were given take-home papers about the life cycle of a butterfly.

“I did hear they are learning about butterflies at school, so we’re right in tune with their classrooms,” Lutz said.

In upcoming weeks, the children are going to learn about various animals that God created, and they are going to plant seeds and watch them grow. Lutz created a bulletin board filled with a variety of animal photos.

“They’ll learn there’s a place for all of them, for each and every animal,” she said.

Lutz is working on building a large bulletin board where the kids can display their artwork and achievement papers from school, such as Student of the Month notices.

The children were so excited about the MAD House that some of them rode in a recent Green Springs parade promoting the program.

“It was cool. I rode in a Mini Cooper,” Schlosser said. “I threw out candy and ate two suckers.”

The MAD House after-school program is free and runs from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays. For more information, call the church at 419-639-3881.