| The La Grange Community Youth
Center was founded by volunteers in 1990. A building in downtown La Grange,
Missouri, was rented, renovated, and opened as the La Grange Community Youth Center.
Originally, the center was intended as a supervised place where young people could go to
relax, visit, and play pool or video games. The center quickly grew beyond the scope
of its early expectations. Organizers saw a need for drug and alcohol awareness
programs, life-skills classes, and the young people wanted help with school work, informal
counseling, and social activities, such as dances and karate classes. In less than
six months, the youth center had grown in both use and scope, and the board sought a
larger building, a former service station also in downtown La Grange. The new center
gave rise to new programs such as dance social events, Ala-Teen sessions, tutoring,
nutrition classes, drug and alcohol education programs, and more. In 1993, the
center was flooded by the Mississippi River. The Volunteers came
together again and remodeled, re-furnished, and again re-opened
for the youth in the area.
As
fund-raising began for the new facility in 1998, the center was forced to move yet
again. The building that the center was renting sold, forcing the center to move
into an old church building. The old church building was utilized
for almost 4 years before moving again. The final time.
Desiring to find a permanent home and to
vacate the vulnerability of the flood plain, the La Grange Community Youth Center applied
for and was selected by the Missouri Department of Economic Development in 1997 to
participate in the Youth Opportunities Tax Credit Program (YOP). The goal of YOP is
to get local, neighborhood, and community businesses and individuals involved in finding
solutions to problems concerning youth in their communities. The Department of
Economic Development allocated $88,470 in tax credits toward the construction of a new
facility for the La Grange Community Youth Center. The new facility is
now in a
building that cost an estimated $150,000.
It is
important to note that the center has always been staffed exclusively by
volunteers and is
funded solely by
private
donations. The history of the youth center gives testimony
to the energy, capacity, and commitment of the center's board members and volunteers.
The new building was
completed and open to the community on April 1, 2002.
In
addition, the youth center director has recently become administrator of Lewis County's
division of Community 2000, a program of the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
By pursuing its involvement in this program, the La Grange Community Youth center will
become eligible for annual grants for new programs.
What does the
Youth Center offer our youth?
The La
Grange Community Youth Center provides educational, recreational, and leisure-time
activities for the young people of La Grange, Missouri, and the surrounding
areas that includes kids from Iowa an Illinois.
The center was established to provide an alternative to drugs, alcohol, and gang
activities.
The
Youth Center offers FREE activities to area youth, including: pool, ping-pong,
basketball and other games, watch television or just provide opportunities to socialize
with other youth and adult volunteers. In addition, students can receive help with
their homework from the Volunteers. The New center has a large
computer room with 6 computers and the computers are always available for school work.
The Center also offers life-skills programs through the University of Missouri Extension
(such as anger management, economics, hygiene, cooking, household management, and
health). Teen dances are held periodically. The Center
provides alternative activities on Halloween and also provides a
full day of activities for Christmas with Santa Clause and Culver-Stockton College students
are involved with the center activities. Community area
Churches regularly host programs for the Youth. Youth helping other youths. Snacks and
soda are available, also.
During
the summer, the youth center is used for summer school.
The center places special emphasis on drug and alcohol abuse prevention. Programs
are also offered to the community to promote gang awareness and intervention.
How is the
Youth Center funded?
The
Youth Center conducts an annual fund-raising campaign each spring for the center's
operating expenses.
The
Youth Center is funded by donations. Expenses for the Youth Center averages
$1,000.00
a month. This includes gas, phone, water, electric, and insurance. Paying the
monthly utilities is a constant struggle, with little left over for upkeep or activities.
Financial and volunteer help are essential for the Center to survive.
How can I help?
The future of the La Grange Community Youth Center depends on the support from the
community. The Center cannot remain open without support from caring people like
you.
- Your tax-deductible
financial support will keep the Center open and operating
- An Annual Fund Drive is held
in February. During this time, Youth Center volunteers ask for donations from the
community. Money raised from the Annual Fund Drive is used specifically for the
Youth Center's operating expenses. (Occasional fundraisers, such as soup lunches,
yard sales, bake sales, Mark Twain Casino's specials, the Lions Club fish fry and several
other fundraisers, help fund special programs and upkeep of the Center.)
- Your volunteer
help is also needed. Do you have a couple of hours a week to help
supervise the Center? Could you help tutor a youth who needs help with
homework? Do you have a special talent that you could teach others? Could you
simply stop by and visit for a while?
Whatever support you can give, you will make a difference to our youth. If you have
any questions, comments or suggestions, please stop by the Youth Center or call the Youth
Center at 573-655-9880 and leave a message.
Or,
call a board member
Derl
& Ruth Bowman 573 655 4176
derlbowman@hotmail.com Linda
& Jerry Brandt 573 655 4148 jbrandt000@centurytel.net Don
& Sharon Sherwood 573 655 4594
antiquesds@centurytel.net Alice
Fish in Memorial Betty
Bronestine Founder 1990 |
