ANDERSON­ — K.D. Williams had coins and a worksheet in front of him. The 8-year-old student from 29th Street Elementary was learning how to make change.

In a way, so was everyone else at a recent open house for an after-school program at the Sherman Street Church of God.

“The need was, the children were suffering so bad in the classroom, and that’s still the issue we face,” said Bonita Holbert, a program coordinator for Marvelous Mondays at the church. “We’re trying to get children caught up with ISTEP scores ... and we’re just wanting to teach them character, accountability for their character and words, and things like that,” she said.

The program has been offered through the church’s children’s outreach ministry for about 10 years, Holbert said, and typically attracts dozens of youngsters to the sites where volunteers help with a variety of school and life lessons.

Among church volunteers, Anderson University students — “study buddies” — help out with homework and also take some lessons from the experience.

“It’s great just being able to help kids with their homework,” said AU junior Katie Porter, an elementary education major from Indianapolis. She said the hands-on interaction with children is the kind of experience she can’t get in the classroom.

“It’s a great program,” she said.

“I just love it,” said Jennifer Shelton, a freshman from LaPorte who is majoring in secondary education. “It just seems like a good thing to do.”

Holbert said that along with the after-school program offered at Sherman Street, similar programs take place at Linwood and Fairview apartment complexes. Over the years, other programs have been adopted by AU study buddies, she said.

But it’s not all hitting the books. At Sherman Street’s Marvelous Mondays, dinner is provided as is fellowship, games and fun. A coy K.D. smiled when he said singing songs and playing were his favorite parts of the after-school program.

Anderson Elementary student Douglas Odoms, 11, sat next to K.D. and succinctly explained why he looks forward to the program.

“To learn about life,” he said.

Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com