The Post offers kids new place for fun

Nov-4-08

The streets are not the only place left for children who need a place to go to have fun.
A new drop-in centre, the Post, at 306 University Avenue, Charlottetown, offers children and youth games, activities and programs to join on their free time.
Darrell Williams, one of the directors of Post, said he sees kids hanging around the streets as a growing problem.
“We hope the kids will have something to do to get them off the streets,” he said.
And there is many options for the kids.
The bright purple main room holds many activities. A television with two dance dance revolution video games hooked up occupied two kids, and captured the gaze of a few others who watched, sitting on a brown couch on the opposite side of the room.
A craft table filled with multi-coloured painting pallets and paint brushes held by hands almost too tiny to grasp the handle sat in the corner, accompanied by a large plastic blue bowl topped with bright red apples.
In another room to the side was what the kids called the “wave” room because of the blue waves painted on all sides. It was filled with piles of books and games boards. An unfinished puzzle sat waiting to be finished on the empty pull out table.
The Post has two separate drop-in times - after school and evening.
The after-school drop-in is for kids up to the age of 13 and is open from 2:30 to 5:30. It offers homework help, snacks, games, arts and crafts, computer access, pool table, air hockey and karaoke.
The evening drop-in is for different age groups, depending on the night. There is at least one night a week for junior high age and one night for high school youth. During this time there will be things like food, board and video games, computer access, music, and the same games as mentioned above.
Kennedy Williams, 11, likes the new play area.
“I like playing dance dance revolution, and I like that all my friends come here.”
She also likes working at the canteen, which sells a variety of candy, chips, juice and pop.
Her younger sister, Mikaylah, 6, also likes meeting new kids.
“I like painting and colouring too,” she said.
The more volunteers the Post gets, the more activities they can pursue, said Williams.
“We're just working on it slowly and as we get more volunteers then we'll open more.”
Williams said getting started wasn't easy. He and wife, Sherry, started the organization with their own money and it is funded through donations. It is being run through a church.
“We started on our own, but then we decided it'd be best if we went through our church because its an existing organization that can offer us some logistical support,” he said.
And even though the program is through the church, Williams said it is not aimed at the religious community. Parents who don't practise religion don't have to worry about their kids joining. There has not been any concern over the issue, Williams said.
“We're not promoting our beliefs at all during the times that the drop-ins are open, so I can't see it being a problem. We've been open a month and it hasn't been brought up at all over that entire month.”
Williams has many things planned for the centre, he said.
“Open more, open as much as possible and just growing so that we're providing more times that the kids and youth can drop in. Lots of different things we have in mind for the future.”
Things Williams mentioned included a kids clothing depot where parents can get free clothing for their kids and a summer job placement program.
For more information contact Darrell or Sherry Williams at 367-5019, or visit www.thepostdrop-in.blogspot.com.