Families get help

In the fall, Johns Island Presbyterian Church will offer an after-school program for students from low-income families.

After School Arts Program (ASAP) will focus on music, dance, visual art and drama with private lessons and classes and the chance to participate in choirs and bands.

Eric Johnson, the church's director of music, said that students from low-income families often don't have opportunities to learn the arts.

"There are a lot of great programs out there like this one, but they can be expensive," he said. "Along with that, art programs in schools are being cut. We're asking where can the church come in to fill in the gap."

Students who qualify for reduced lunch at their schools are eligible to participate.

The church will charge a $1 a day to participate, and no child will be turned away because of inability to pay.

"The fee is really more of a way of teaching the students how to take financial responsibility for their education," Johnson said. "A student would only pay 50 cents for a private lesson. The program will run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. The ideal student would stay for that entire time and they would pay $1 a day. It's not even comparable to other programs.

All money collected will go back into the program, he said.

ASAP needs donations of musical instruments. The church will lend them to students who can't afford their own.

The church would prefer individuals to donate portable brass, woodwind and percussion instruments typically found in a band. Larger instruments, such as pianos, may not be needed due to space.

Volunteers are also needed to help teach and to take students to and from the church.

"We're looking for qualified music teachers that have experience and hopefully some education in those areas. They can volunteer as little as 30 minutes a week or as long as we have time for," Johnson said.

Donated instruments and gas costs for transporting students are tax-deductible.

For more information about donating or volunteering, call Eric Johnson 559-9380 or e-mail him at ejohnson@jipc.org.

For more information about ASAP visit www.jipc.org. Select the tab for music on the left side of the screen, and then After School Arts Program on the top right.

Reach Christina Elmore at 937-5521 or celmore@postandcourier.com.