We first met Etta through her two great grandchildren, Marcus (6th grade) and Ja’shawn (4th grade). Etta enrolled the boys in our STARS afterschool program through Lagonda Elementary in 2021. STARS Director, Heather Bielawski, soon learned that both boys were full of enthusiasm and determination but also had trouble staying focused as they were battling […]
Jesus, sunshine, a new favorite book, playing ball, and painting pictures with your pals all week long; now this is what summer is all about! We praise God that through partnerships with local churches and generous individuals like you, SCYM provided Camp Boost to 116 children this summer, free of charge! Camp Boost was hosted […]
Start Up Here at SCYM, it is our great joy to create opportunities for the youth of Springfield that fill their time wisely. Laniyah Stone is one such student I have watched make the most of her opportunities. She began her SCYM journey in elementary school in 2016, attending our Camp Boost summer reading club. […]
The good thing about SCYM is that we do not own a building or have any overhead costs other than staff and program expenses. SCYM exists through partnerships with churches and schools that are already located in the neighborhoods of the kids we serve. This allows us to maximize every donation we receive to serve […]
The basement at Westside Christian Community Church was home to SCYM’s Stars Afterschool Program for Snyder Park Elementary for more than two decades. Members of the church and other volunteers from around the community would rally together for the purpose of sharing Jesus and helping Stars children however they could. The doors at Westside closed […]
God’s Perfect Love… “I remember a certain morning last year when I was volunteering at Camp Boost that I almost didn’t come because I was feeling really discouraged and my brain was telling me it was going to be a bad day. I also didn’t want to let everyone down, so I went anyway. When […]
My role at SCYM as the director of the STARS program couldn’t be a more perfect fit! I am so excited that I have the privilege of sharing the love of Jesus with kids who may never have another opportunity to hear the Good News! I have always had a heart for children. In my […]
“I am thrilled to become a part of the SCYM family! Family is a big part of who I am, and I am excited for it to grow! I am a Springfield native and have lived here my entire life. I am the oldest out of four children to James and Debbie Copeland. I have […]
The meaning of the word “normal” is something we are all trying to figure out the definition of these days. Last year’s normal looked like Girlpower girls sharing a healthy snack, Manpower and Wiseguys students learning about godly manhood, and STARS kids enjoying read-aloud time… all through a computer screen. These are not ideal circumstances […]