×

Ferry youth program provides children with food, activities

T-L Photos/CARRI GRAHAM Martins Ferry Youth Program attendees get ready to eat lunch Wednesday at the Rec Center. Pictured, from left, are Tanner Ofat, Anthony Alexander, Dionte Whetstone and Tucker Ofat.

MARTINS FERRY — A recently launched youth program is underway in Martins Ferry, providing school-aged kids a place to hang out during the summer months.

Officer John Holmes, a resource officer at the high school, supervises the program offered at the Martins Ferry Recreation Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. During these times all of the city’s school-aged youth are able to come into the center, where they are provided lunch, snacks and various activities throughout the day.

What started off as an idea to help local children by Holmes, Police Chief John McFarland and Mayor John Davies has now come to fruition.

“We wanted to give kids a safe, fun place to go and hang out in the summertime so they’re not hanging out with the wrong people. So at least through the week they can come here and be around adults and other students and get positive interactions,” Holmes said.

The program opened June 13 and will continue through the summer, up until students return to the classroom in late August. Holmes said the program is continuing to develop. He said the kids, who currently range in age from 8 up to 17, play games, swim and are provided lunch and snacks while they are in attendance.

“They come here and they play dodgeball, football, basketball, kickball and Wiffle ball. Occasionally we meet early in the morning and they’ll help me clean up the park a little bit … They can also go swimming at the pool. It does cost around $1 but any kids that show up and don’t have money, I’ll help get them in if they want to swim,” he said.

“Kids can also roller skate, play pingpong, air hockey and pool.”

Holmes said the program typically averages 15-20 kids per day.

Up until more recently, the participants would purchase their own food from the concession stand inside the center. He said he began reaching out to entities in the city in order to find a way to help feed them.

He was able to secure grant funds through the Martins Ferry City School District to purchase food and snacks, and East Ohio Regional Hospital agreed to donate meals every Tuesday and Thursday.

“The hospital’s cafeteria boxes up lunches for me and sends them down. I just text them and let them know how many kids I have. And the school was able to get me grant money so I have an account set up at Sam’s Club so I can go and charge items,” he said.

“So the kids are getting fed all summer, along with snacks and drinks.”

Holmes said he also has breakfast items available for kids who would like something to eat in the mornings.

There are rules the children must abide by while attending the youth program.

“It’s similar to the school’s rules. There’s no fighting, no bullying, no cussing and this is kind of a way to build relationships between the kids in the community and promote a safe, healthy environment for them,” Holmes said, adding that they also discuss drug and violence prevention as well.

So far, he said he has only had to send one child home due to behavior.

The program is completely free for any of the children in attendance. Any child in the city school district is welcome to participate. Holmes said he posts program updates on the Martins Ferry Swimming Pool Facebook page.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today