The school bell rings and children rush to the flagpole. There they meet the volunteer of the day for the “walking carpool” from the elementary school to Our Savior Lutheran Church’s “Front Porch” building in Wayne.

The former city library, a historic, brick Carnegie building, was purchased and converted to four spacious rooms a few years ago by the church. It is home to youth programs and, now, to kindergartners through sixth graders for supervised after-school activities every day that school is in session.

Licensing requirements have been met and the director is in place. Michelle Combs clearly shows her love for children and her creativity, both on the playground and inside, where children have snacks, play games, create art projects, and receive gentle tutoring. The license allows up to 29 children at any one time, and the roster filled up in the first two weeks after registration opened. Volunteers from the congregation take turns helping in the program.

A vision team from Our Savior Lutheran spent several months seeking guidance from God and researching the needs of the community before deciding that the congregation could tackle the need for after-school care in the community. The only other options were for children to go home to an empty house, be cared for by older siblings, or go to child care that exists for preschoolers. Parents of the “Front Porch” kids are delighted with this program, paying just a small daily fee, because the church has subsidized the ministry. Grants have also been received to cover start-up expenses.

For more information about After School at the Front Porch, contact Sue Stover at Our Savior Lutheran Church (402-375-2899).

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