The Vineyard City Church is
improving its opportunities for children who live in the Potomac neighborhood.
The Christian church has revamped its After School programs and
added a new playground next to its location at 172 Potomac Ave.
The after school program was changed this
year from being only one day a week to now four days a week. It’s a 3-to-1 ratio for teacher to child and they’re working on changing
it to a1-to-1 ratio.
The program is free to the
children who attend and you don’t have to be a member of the church.
“Most of the students that attend our After School programs are within walking distance of
the church,” Senior Pastor Steven Schenk said.
The church is trying to provide the
children with education that they may not be receiving at home or at the current
school they’re attending.
“Many systems in America treat
groups differently and some people get really quality education and some do
not,” Schenk said. “This is our attempt to remedy that injustice and make it
equal opportunity.”
According to Schenk, the attendance
since making the program four days a week has increased about 12 students to 20 students.
Along with the changes to the after
school program the church also added a new addition, a tire-park
playground. The children used to play on
an old house’s rubble that burned down.
Farmers from the area donated big
tires from old tractors that the kids can climb and play on.
“The kids always had somewhere to
play but at least now it’s safe,” Schenk said. By Crissie Russo and Caitlin Waters
