The Drop is open for business in Quakertown

Quakertown Community Center’s The Drop is open for business.

The new initiative aims to serve at-risk youth by providing a safe place to gather, have a snack, and make healthy connections with adults and each other.

“We want to help young people who are hanging out in the parks, or without much hope or direction discover and realize their dreams,” said Bruce Eglinton-Woods, board of directors president of the Quakertown Community Center and pastor of Salem Mennonite Church in Richland Township.

Eglinton-Woods said for the past three years area pastors had kicked around the idea of providing programming for youth in Grades 6-12, who might not have parental support or know about resources available to them after school.

“We want to help them realize there is hope. We want to help them discover their gifts and talents – and find their dreams,” Eglinton-Woods explained.

The center is open Monday and Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Quakertown Community Center Executive Director Larry Serge said The Drop is aimed at youth who “have no direction and end up hanging out.”

He said providing structure and building secure relationships were important first steps.

Quakertown Borough donated the use of the former ice skating cabin, located on Fourth Avenue. Representatives for Quakertown Borough were unavailable for comment.

Other programs – current and proposed – serving youngsters in Quakertown include:

Pride of Quakertown a non-profit organization providing scholarships disadvantaged youth under the age of 18, so they can participate in extracurricular activities such as soccer, softball or to take dance or instrumental music lessons.

Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW) an entrepreneurial camp open to rising high school juniors and seniors with administrator recommendation. Camps provide a weeklong intensive “college campus” experience annually from June through August. Camp admittance is not based upon a grade point average (GPA) or College Board test scores such as the SAT or ACT. Scholarships are made available through upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce.

Quakertown Action Park Transformation Project celebrated a groundbreaking Oct. 6, aimed at providing opportunities for youth to enjoy in the downtown. Free Fall Action Sports, which includes a building, snack stand and restrooms is Phase I of the project. Phase II includes an outdoor state-of-the-art concrete park.

Eglinton-Woods said he hoped adult mentors and academic tutoring could grow from Quakertown Community Center.

“We need to identify their strengths” to help put youngsters on a path to success. “Whether that means college, finding a good job or vocational program training, first we have to develop those relationships,” Eglinton-Woods said.

What:

The Drop at Quakertown Community Center

Who:

Young people aged 14 to 18.

When:

Open twice weekly from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday and Wednesday.

Cost:

Services to youth are free of charge.

Where:

Former ice skating cabin at Fourth Street in Quakertown.

For more information about becoming a volunteer, or to donate snack items contact Larry Serge at lserge1951@gmail.com