Granny’s House is a safe, nurturing place where children ages 4-18 can come each day after school (from 3-6 pm) to see values, manners and God’s love in action. We provide a safe place to play or do homework and an atmosphere of hope and calm in an all-too-often chaotic world.
Programs We Provide
We have a vision at Granny’s House to reach the children of Columbia’s inner city before their lives are shaped by destructive behaviors or become entangled in the legal system. We truly believe there is a “window of opportunity” now to make a permanent and very real change in their lives.
We try to provide the things a grandmother might provide: nourishing food, a listening ear, guidance when needed, prayer, time to read a book together or to watch someone do a cartwheel. It’s a comforting place where there is always someone “home” when the kids get home from school. It’s orderly but fun; there are rules but hugs, too.
Granny’s House is not a “drop in” center. A parent must enroll their child in order for them to attend. We love getting to know these children and have great respect for their families. Granny’s House is not an agency or a social service program. We are a Christ-centered outreach. Our mission is to nurture the children in an intimate relationship with their Heavenly Father.
We provide a checklist that includes reading, writing, math, character development, and financial literacy. The children decide what to work on first, where to work, and how to complete each task. We believe age-mixed activities, card games, and board games help children develop skills such as paying attention and critical thinking. In all of this, we share the gospel and our lives with our children (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
Throughout the day we hear a lot of “Hey! Watch me do this!” And there is always somebody available to “watch.” Often, the children just want someone to listen, read a book, play a game or color with them in our craft room. This invaluable “face time” helps build trusting, loving relationships between the children and the volunteers.