Youth center scheduled to open in October
The Western News
The Gathering Place of Libby Inc. has announced plans to open a new youth center on Oct. 3 at 1108 Utah Ave. in Libby.
Terms have been agreed upon to purchase the existing Assembly of God Church and a Letter of Intent to Sell has been signed. Brad Kelsch, of Howell & Associates, has appraised the property and the funding is the first order of business.
Fund raising has begun with a goal to raise $15,000 for the down payment and monthly support commitments will be needed to help balance their budget. A start-up grant and finance package is being pursued through the Kalispell office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
The grant would cover $75,000 and the group has also been looking into a low interest loan of $213,000 over a 40 year period.
There was a youth center in Libby in 1998 on Mineral Avenue, however the center went $36,000 in debt. The center was closed and organizer John Drews paid $1,200 a month for four years until the debt was paid off, he said. Talks centered around a youth center were started again in September 2007 and the 13-person steering committee was organized.
There is a need for activities for youth, Drews confessed.
“Ask any of the kids what Libby offers the youth when they have time off away from school,” he said. “Five percent have church activities that they are involved in, some are home schooled and do activities with their parents and then the other 90 percent hang out…They need choices, they need something to do, somewhere where people care about them.”
Openings are still available on the executive board, the operating board, the advisory board and the student council.
Operating plans for the youth center include an indoor skateboard area, a snack bar, a nursery for students with children, pool tables, foos-ball, air hockey, computers, video games, karaoke, ping pong and other gaming machines.
This will truly be a “community effort,” as they will rely mainly on volunteer help for supervision. They hope to have at least 30 active volunteers to call upon and plan to have at least three adults in attendance at all times during open hours. Currently, $800 a month is committed to the center, Drews added.
Also, in circulation are petitions to be signed to prove community support to the foundations they are approaching for grant and donation support. All attempts to help will be appreciated, and all support will directly help the youth of the community.
To find out how to get involved attend the next monthly “Steering Committee” meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 6 at the Venture Inn.