By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - Approaching its second anniversary in September, Cass County Youth Club is guided by a five-member board of directors and 15 volunteers who donate from three hours a week to 40 hours a month.
Members are 6 to 18 years old.
Accepting a $100 donation July 19 from Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network employees, Tony McFarland said, "Our children face a lot of problems today that they cannot cope with and we're simply trying to show them ways of spending their leisure time learning and having fun instead of getting into drugs, alcohol and crime."
Edward Lowe Foundation provides the Youth Club its facility on Decatur Road at no cost.
The Youth Club pays its utilities, insurance and program costs from a variety of grants and community donations. The Youth Club also provides snacks for each session and picnics on special occasions.
The facility provides social activities after school, during summer and on weekends.
Volunteers work with the kids, maintain the facility and plan new ideas to keep them busy, "which is a real challenge," he said.
The first two years "have been very busy, rewarding and, most important, we have learned so much about how to handle all kinds of situations that come up in our daily sessions with the kids," McFarland said. "We are proud to say that we have made some great strides in changing behavior and we know that there is a lot more that we will learn.
Older teens are encouraged to set a good example for younger members and are a great help in mentoring and assisting the younger ones with homework and other projects. Youth Club usually has 20 to 30 kids at one time.
All volunteers receive background checks and are screened for criminal sexual behavior by the Sheriff's Office.
This summer Youth Club participants have gone fishing at Kelsey Lake.
This weekend is a barn sale fundraiser. They will have a barn dance with a deejay in a few weeks.
In August will be a trip to a South Bend Silver Hawks baseball game at which a member will throw out the first pitch.
Community service projects are planned to help seniors and disabled people in the community, such as yard clean-up.
Members have also been invited for the second time to go sailing and boating on Diamond Lake, which they really enjoy. Last year only the older kids went. This year, all the kids are going.