Youth center in Georgiana needs aid
Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden, Jail Administrator Capt. Al McKee, Butler County Commissioner Jesse McWilliams and Evangelist Carolyn Griffin chat with the children at the Georgiana Children’s Depot Youth Center Thursday. The center is looking for businesses and individuals willing to support the center through donations of money, materials and time. Click Here for details.
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Series of youth centers goal of group
Carolyn Griffin has a vision for the
young people of Greenville and Butler County.
Griffin, an evangelist with Warrior Ministries, wants to see
a series of youth centers established throughout the Butler
County area. “We are in the very early stages of
planning this, but our vision is to reach out to the kids in
the communities when and where they need these centers,”
Griffin said.
Tentative plans are to create two youth centers in
Greenville, one in Georgiana, one in McKenzie and a possible
fifth center in Lowndes County. Possible locations are
currently being scouted for the centers.
“We want these centers to be located where the teens hang
out, so it is convenient for them to come and be involved in
something positive and constructive,” Griffin said.
The youth center's planning group is also looking into
grants and other funding possibilities for the centers. In
the meantime, Griffin is working to get the word out to
city, county and school officials about the centers
proposal.
“I have already spoken to Mayor McLendon (of Greenville) and
still need to speak with the mayors of Georgiana and
McKenzie about what we want to do,” Griffin said.
The evangelist and community volunteer said one of the chief
goals was to target “the kids who are in and out of the
alternative school.”
A mentoring program will be utilized at the centers to help
the youth who often fall through the cracks. “Judge Mack Russell has discussed having
attendance at one of the youth centers as a part of juvenile
sentencing,” Griffin said.
She emphasizes the group is not looking for a financial
handout, but rather seeking the support of the community at
large.“We realize there are a lot of monetary
needs in this area. We need a new jail, we need several new
schools,” Griffin said. “What we are looking and asking for is strong community support across the board, from our schools, our city and county officials, churches and the public in general.”
To learn more, go to www.warrior-ministries.org or contact Carolyn Griffin at (334) 383-9732. |