About

The LANDers Affordable After-School Care

O Happy Day! was formerly known as Psalm 37:3, which began in 2013 when a single parent who could not afford after-school care for his two elementary school children asked his church family, Luke 10:27, A Community of Faith, to pray for his family.

This father felt his only option was to leave his children at home alone, with locked doors, and a cell phone, and to get home as fast as he could. Out of prayer was birthed the non-profit organization Psalm 37:3 and our first program: The LANDers, an after-school program for underserved children in our community, Denham Springs, Louisiana.

After three thriving years, another need became apparent.  The mayor of Denham Springs, the chairman of the Board of Psalm 37:3, was asked the question, “What one thing, if solved, would make the most positive difference in our community?” 

The mayor eagerly received the question and began to pray about it.  Two weeks later, he shared with the board, “I believe the answer to the question is racism.” 

We recognized we were addressing the issue of racism through The LANDers after-school program.  But, more needed to be done. So, we created the Young Artists’ Academy.

Young Artists’ Academy Training in the Arts

The Young Artists’ Academy (YAA) began in 2015 and consists of roughly fifty children of financially disadvantaged families.

Children receive free art classes from qualified teachers in subjects such as drum, voice, guitar, keyboard, pottery, and French. They also learn choir from the First Community Gospel Choir of Denham Springs. Young Artists’ Academy kids also perform at events in the community and at their annual end of the year Spring Gala.

YAA classes in the arts are free and available to ALL children in our community. They are on Saturday mornings during the school year.

If you know of a child that would like to learn to sing, play an instrument, dance, learn pottery, or more, please join us.

Reading Restoration Literacy Instruction

Reading Restoration is a structured literacy program in Denham Springs that began in 2019 to teach children in the LANDers and YAA programs who are struggling with reading and writing. Children receive one-on-one literacy sessions twice weekly from three trained tutors.

Reading Restoration literacy training is open to the entire community, not just our kids in the O Happy Day! programs.

And in 2020, we began offering virtual sessions for those who cannot join us on-site.

Camp Canoe-Be-Kind Virtual Kindness Adventures

In 2014, we began what was then a summer camp and is now a year-long adventure called Camp Canoe-Be-Kind. It began like this: a five-day camp where kids learned manners and etiquette. In addition, they learned that they are an important part of the Denham Springs and Greater Baton Rouge community.

We met from Monday through Friday from 5:30 – 8:00 PM. At the end of the five-day week, the kids put on a banquet for their parents. Throughout the week, the kids worked on a project that they gifted to the community.

One year, they built a bench that still rests under a gorgeous oak tree at the entrance of Spring Park in Denham Springs. Another year, they planted a beautiful flower bed under a prominent statue in Denham Springs.

In 2020, we moved to an online, virtual camp that lasts all year and can be started at any time. There are weekly Christian adventures for kids to participate in. The adventures are focused on kindness, something this hurting world is in great need of. It would be a great privilege to have your child or one you know join us.