Making the World a Better Place
Kindness Keepers is a Denham Springs non-profit for children formerly known as Psalm 37:3.
Our mission is to offer affordable and free opportunities for children and youth:
- to experience enrichment activities through after-school programs,
- training in the arts,
- structured literacy tutoring, and
- both a virtual and summer camp of Christian adventures.
Our goal is to provide a safe place for ALL children.
Learn more about how each of the four programs of Kindness Keepers began.
We hope you’ll join and support us!
Beginnings of our Non-Profit For Children
Let’s Trust in the Lord and Do Good
THE LANDERS AFFORDABLE AFTER-SCHOOL CARE
Cutouts of hands make beautiful art Children on the playground Jumping rope on the playground
In 2013 a single father who could not afford after-school care for his two elementary school children asked his church family at Luke 10:27 to pray for his family.
This father felt worried about leaving his children at home alone, with locked doors, and a cell phone. He struggled to get home as fast as he could.
Through prayer, we found a solution: an after-school program for all children needing a safe place to go.
After three thriving years, another need became apparent.
We asked the former mayor of Denham Springs Jimmy Durbin, “What is one problem in Denham Springs that if it was solved would significantly improve the city?”
“Racism,” he answered.
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.
The LANDers after-school program provides for underserved children in Denham Springs. But, more needed to be done.
So, we created the Young Artists’ Academy.
Young Artists’ Academy Training in the Arts
Singing in the choir Learning to make pottery Taking piano lessons
The Young Artists’ Academy (YAA) began in 2015.
Roughly fifty children of financially disadvantaged families take lessons in the arts on Saturday mornings.
They 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.
If you know of a child that would like to learn to sing, play an instrument, dance, learn pottery, or more, please get in touch with us.
Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Psalm 37:3
Reading Restorations Literacy Instruction
Our literacy tutor with a happy student Ellen and Hank with his literacy certificate Children reading together after school
Reading Restorations is a structured literacy program that began in 2019.
We noticed that some of the children in the Landers and YAA programs were struggling with reading and writing.
Ellen DiMaria suggested we add to our non-profit for children and address the need for literacy training.
Children receive one-on-one sessions twice weekly from three trained tutors.
Reading Restorations is open to the entire community, not just our kids in the Kindness Keepers programs.
And in 2020, we began offering virtual sessions for those who cannot join us on-site.
Camp Kindness Virtual and Face-to-face Kindness Adventures
Teaching kindness Campers share their artwork Each camper gets a red bag of courage
Kids also need fun activities in the summer, so in 2014, we began a summer camp in Denham Springs.
Camp Kindness (aka Camp CanoeBeKind) was five-day camp where kids learned manners and etiquette.
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.
Another year, they planted a beautiful flower bed under a prominent statue in Denham Springs.
This was a super fun way for them to learn that they are an important part of our Denham Springs community.
Then 2020 came along and Camp Kindness became a year-long virtual adventure.
Campers can start the virtual adventures at any time.
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.
Leslie Nichols Akin
Founder
Leslie Nichols Akin is the Founder of Kindness Keepers. She earned her Doctor of Ministry with emphasis on the Spiritual Formation of Children from the Fuller Theological Seminary and her Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
Leslie is a wife, a mother of two, and a grandmother of nine amazing grandchildren. In addition to being the Founder of Kindness Keepers, she is a tutor in Reading Restorations and the Director of Camp Kindness.
It is because of Leslie’s undeterred call to help the community that our non-profit for children exists.
Ellen DiMaria
Executive Director
Ellen DiMaria is the Executive Director of Kindness Keepers. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education for Elementary and Early Childhood, taught 1st-grade for 11 years, and home educated her own three children. Ellen established and trained a community of classical educators in the Classical Conversations Community for 10 years and has been a trained dyslexia instructor since 2016.
Ellen is a wife, a mother of three, and a grandmother. In addition to being the Executive Director of Kindness Keepers, she is the Director of Reading Restorations.
Ellen’s faith, leadership, knowledge, and experience are true gifts to all of the children that our community has the privilege to serve.
Our Amazing Board Members
Bill Boutte, Chair, Insurance, Co-Owner Capital City Crawfish Restaurant
Rene Delahoussaye, former City Council Member
Bart Kennedy,
Kathryn Martin, Educator, mother of five children
Lonnie Shupe, Manager for Thyssenkrump, Lead Pastor at Luke 10:27 Church
Sheryl Phipps, co-owner Sport n’Center
Jackie Reed, Accountant
Sarah Scott, Public School Teacher for 50 years
Butch Wax, former Principal and Football Coach, Denham Springs High School