CLEARLAKE >> As the Clearlake Youth Center is finishing up its second year of service to the city, it”s coordinators are seeking to amplify it”s mission.
The non-profit”s first GoFundMe fundraising account has been set up with the hopes of pulling in $800 for a Public Address (PA) system.
Although the center has only been around for a couple of years, it”s membership doubled from its first year of operation and the multiple fundraising events held each year warrant the need for a sound system.
“We”ve always had to borrow a PA system from someone else,” President Mike Vandiver said. “We just need to get our own though because we”re needing it more of the time.”
The center used to borrow the Southshore Little League”s equipment, but it was eventually stolen.
“We did a murder mystery dinner and tried to use the microphones from a karaoke machine — that didn”t work too well,” Vandiver added.
In the center”s after-school program, children ages 7 to 17 have a place to spend their afternoons under supervision and with friends for $20 a week. Two years ago, the center hosted about eight students on a regular basis. This year, 15 students, mostly between the ages of 8 and 13, are attending the center”s program.
Students can also chose to participate in an archery program, offered by Middletown Archery, and a boxing program. In March, it”s the Jr. Giants baseball program that draws in a mass of students; last year, 140 students finished the program.
“We”re just trying to find something for the kids to do; that”s hard to find around here and it always has been,” Vandiver said.
With the center”s current activities catering more to the younger children, Vandiver said he wants to get more of the older teens involved, but growing a program isn”t so easy.
“It”s hard to grow when you”re trying to survive, being based on donations,” he said.
His ideas for new programs include archery tag, which he assures isn”t as dangerous as it may sound, and an audio/video class where students can edit their own footage.
Already though, the center”s monthly expenses run about $3,000 and that”s including the fact that their building is practically rent-free; the city rents the building to the center for $1.
Between a paid employee running the program and the costs of snacks and activities, there”s just not enough to go for an extra expense like a PA system, which can run anywhere between $600 and $1,000.
To make a donation for the sound system, visit www.gofundme.com/k6peck. For more information about the youth center, call 994-5437 or email clearlakeyouthcenter@gmail.com.
