Do you ever wonder what your teen is up to when you’re not around? Where they go and who they spend their time with? What if there was a place that would allow you to rest easy knowing that your teen is being supervised but still able to socialize and interact with other students? Now what would you think if I told you that this place exists right here in East Cobb?
All teens face pressures in their daily lives, whether it be getting good grades, getting into a good college or making the right choices. Teens today experience a lot of anxiety and they may not always choose the right way to blow off steam. Dr. Jayson Hayes, pastor at Marietta Alliance Church, saw this problem in his church community and decided that he needed to be the one to step up and make a difference. He was able to poll businesses in the area and get feedback regarding problems they were experiencing with teens. “Working with kids has always stirred my heart,” says Dr. Hayes and he felt it was his religious and moral duty to help the teens in his community. As a result of many discussions with local business owners and residents, he found some retail space in the The Corners shopping center and created the “Mudroom”, seven years ago.
The Mudroom is completely renovated, fully supported, and entirely staffed by volunteers from Marietta Alliance Church. Located at 2745 Sandy Plains Road in Marietta/East Cobb, The Mudroom is a free teen center in walking distance of Sprayberry High School and is a place where teens from all over East Cobb can socialize and enjoy complimentary snacks and beverages. The 3,600 square foot space is equipped with a pool table, ping pong table, two foosball tables, two flat screen TV’s, a gaming center, four serving counters and free wifi. The Mudroom is open from 3pm to 6pm Tuesday through Friday and averages 25 to 65 teenagers every week. Since the Mudroom operates during the school week, tutoring is also offered. In addition to being open during the week the Mudroom is also open for special teen events, such as video game tournaments, special speakers, and an annual Christmas party. Dr. Hayes emphasized that they “don’t make any money,” and everything that they have are donations from the church.
As the growth of the ministry has grown Dr. Hayes has not lost focus of why he is doing what he does. The regular teens refer to him as “Dr. J” and he knows each of them by name. One teen shared, “I know that I can go to Dr. J when I need to talk”. Another teen visitor, said he liked the Mudroom because “it was a cool place to meet people you wouldn’t talk to at school.”
Dr. Hayes also revealed how the ministry has not only affected the teens that attend but has also had a ripple effect on the community. He shared a past situation where a family lost their home to a fire and his ministry was able to help them get back on their feet because he heard about the family’s loss through the teens visiting the Mudroom.
The Mudroom is run completely from donations so if you would like to donate, visit www.macweb.org/ giving/ and select Mudroom ministries when prompted. For more information you can visit Marietta Alliance Church’s website at www.macweb.org/contact-us/ . The Mudroom is an amazing opportunity and it will give your teen a chance to flourish in a safe environment.
By Christina Houston
This article originally appeared in the November issue of the EAST COBBER magazine, on page 18. Click HERE to access the digital edition.
