Volunteer work has always been in Miriam Like's blood. She volunteered her time towards helping others in her home county of Franklin, up until the time she moved to St. Louis in late 2009. Upon her relocation, Like knew she wanted to continue volunteering as a way to give back to the community, and furthermore, she knew she wanted to volunteer her time in the after school setting.

Her search led her to ARCHS, who referred her to the After School for All Partnership for St. Louis (ASAP) service delivery partner Stray Dog Theatre. Since January 2011, Like has been volunteering her time at Mason Elementary School in St. Louis two nights a week.

"I help the students with their homework, I play with them - just basic interaction with all the kids. It's a blessing for me," Like said.

"I knew I wanted to do an after school program because I wanted to work with kids. I work in the corporate world during the day, so I look forward to coming to Mason Elementary like a kid looks forward to candy. The kids have so much energy and life that coming here a few days is the light of my week."

ARCHS' programs have more than 88,000 volunteer hours (including ASAP) to support their work. That 88,000 hours is the savings equivalent to 42 full-time positions. A savings which is as important as ever in these tough economic times.

"I volunteer because in some way I hope it will impact the kids' lives who I see," Like said. "I hope some of them will look back one day and say 'Oh, remember that one teacher who played with me?' I hope it will mean something to them."

ARCHS is pleased to announce it has received a grant from The Herbert A. and Adrian W. Woods Foundation for $7,500 to support the After School for All Partnership for St. Louis (ASAP). Since 2007, ASAP has made a dramatic impact on the lives of St. Louis area students, parents, educators and after school professionals. ARCHS serves as ASAP’s strategic contract management and fiscal agent.

More than 4,000 St. Louis area students are served under ASAP.

Click HERE to donate to ASAP.

The importance of after school programming to St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) is highly evident.

"ARCHS commitment to SLPS students and their families remains unsurpassed," said SLPS Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams. "Now in its fourth year, ASAP's after school programs have proven to be a vital component in the district's efforts to provide high-quality after school programs designed to improve academic achievement."

SLPS’ commitment to after school programming is also evident through its commitment to the After School for All Partnership for St. Louis (ASAP). SLPS provides ASAP with $100,000 in annual funding, bus transportation services, staff support and free use of classroom and recreational space in its schools.

“St. Louis Public Schools values after school programs because the district values the education of our students,” said Judith King, Coordinator of After School Programs for SLPS. “After school programs give students the opportunity to enrich and extend the academic program of their regular school day.”

SLPS Executive Director of Community Education John Windom said the district understands the community involvement that ASAP brings, and by having such high standards it brings a coordinated system of quality programming when coupled with ongoing monitoring.

“St. Louis Public Schools recognizes that it does not possess all the knowledge that exists related to after school programs,” Windom said. “The district views its relationships with ASAP as an opportunity to formally work with other youth-serving organizations in an effort to provide the best, high quality, well supervised and closely monitored after school programs the community has to offer.”

ASAP is a community effort to increase access to quality after school services in the Greater St. Louis area. ASAP services not only support students with homework help and transfer learning through hands-on activities. They also support parents needing more family stability, after school professionals learning from each other and from outside experts, public and private funders pooling their resources and the region investing in its future and future leaders.

Since 2007, ASAP and its partners have added 2,560 new additional “after school slots” to the City of St. Louis.  ARCHS serves as ASAP’s strategic contract management and fiscal agent and St. Louis for Kids provides additional professional development expertise.

The After School for All Partnership for St. Louis (ASAP) was proud to be one of 6,000 communities across the nation taking part in Lights On After School. The 11th annual Lights On After School was held October 21 and featured more than 1 million Americans rallying for after school programs.

Dozens of ASAP programs participated in Lights On After School and host Fall Festivals, Pajama Jams, Hip Hop Sock Hops, Sports Nights, Academic Olympics, After School Cook Off and more!

ASAP and its partners have added more than 2,600 new additional "after school slots" to the City of St. Louis. ASAP is working toward a goal of adding more than 5,600 new slots to assure that at least 22 percent of city-based students have access to after school services (the national average).

Check out the photo gallery page (click picture) to see more "Light's On" pictures from ASAP elementary schools Sherman, Peabody, Mason, Lexington, Jefferson and Stevens Middle School (21st Century)!