When kids are looking for a place to go after school, Rainbow's End Youth Services (REYS), 105 Fairview St., Mount Joy, welcomes them with open arms.

"REYS is a wonderful place for students to have fun, to learn about God's love and to build relationships with other students and loving mentors," said executive director Cristina Paden.

REYS, which typically coordinates the start of a new year with the start of the school year, had a delayed opening this year due to some shifts in staffing, but the programs are now back on a limited basis.

"We're open three days a week," Paden stated. On Mondays, students in grades six through 12 are invited to REYS from 3 to 6 p.m. On Wednesdays, programs are open for students in grades four through six, and on Fridays, students in grades one through three are invited to attend. Both of those programs are offered from 3:30 to 6 p.m.

Activities vary depending on the age of the students, but all sessions share similar elements, Paden said. "They always have free time, they always get a hot meal provided by our volunteers, and they always have Bible study or a life lesson that we share with them," she explained. "Everything we do offers the students opportunities for connection and to get to know other people."

REYS also offers one-on-one piano lessons and group martial arts classes.

She emphasized that REYS hopes to soon return to programming five days a week and resume field trips and special events for the students, and the organization is in the process of hiring a full-time student ministries coordinator to support programming.

Paden noted that REYS fills an important role in the community, and when it was closed, people noticed.

"A lot of families kept asking us, 'When are you guys going to open?' Our kids kept asking, 'When can we go back to REYS?'" she said.

REYS relies on financial support from the community to offer its programs for free to families, and it requires a roster of volunteers to support students.

The organization is currently in the middle of a campaign to raise $100,000 by the end of the year, Paden noted.

"We want to do everything we can to continue to make our programs possible for local families," she remarked. "REYS is a really fun place to make friends and for students to receive extra support and love as they journey through life."

For more information on REYS, visit https://reys.org.