“If not, then listen to me, be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” Job 33:33
After a night of restlessness, Rev. Dr. Mary O. Stover tossed, turned, prayed and took a sleep agent to help her fall asleep; and yet, she still did not fall asleep. Finally, desiring much needed sleep, she confessed to God that she would wait for HIS disclosure. Immediately, she fell into a deep dream/nightmare. The hardship events of working mothers and fathers were revealed to her; the inadequate child care during the summer months; the denial of grandparents to eat because of the added burden of summer
support to their adult children required the grandparents to feed their grandchildren; and necessary adult supervision was lacking because the parents had to decide should their rent get paid,, electric bills
taken care ,or to buy sufficient food outweighed the adult supervision/child care on their budgets. Ultimately, children being unattended, the lack of proper nutrition, and falling into negative patterns were averted.
The pain encountered by the nightmare awaken Dr. Stover’s sleep she so desperately wanted. She cried to God, “What am I to do?” The revelation came gently, “Take care of the children.” Upon sharing the event with her pastor, he inquired, “What are you going to do?” Her answer was to open a summer program with NO charge to the parents/families. Her pastor became so elated that he informed her that
he would ask the church to financially assist her efforts.
Thus, at the urging of the LORD, the assistance of Pastor Hiram Spain and St. Mark Baptist Church, along with retirement funds from Deacon Rufus-her husband- and Dr. Stover, the RAM Foundation was organized, has grown, and continues soundly to develop towards improving the quality of life for youths living in underserved communities, and to love children for 14 years.
Our services extend beyond the campus to parents, grandparents, and the community. These constituents feel secure that their children are well cared for while they experience a little time to themselves to handle business and /or to take care of necessities.
Dr. Stover dreams someday of an independent site to augment the growth of the program and its impact on the world.