Salvation Army brings after-school program to Palmer

PALMER -- The Salvation Army is reaching out to Palmer youths with an after-school program.

In recent years, local businesses, school officials and Palmer Public Library employees have noticed a growing problem of children and teens hanging around Palmer with no adult supervision after school.

On any one afternoon during the school year, as many as 20 to 30 students convene at the library. While some are there to do homework or conduct research, library officials say the vast majority are there simply because they have nowhere else to go.

Dan and Verna Hughes with the Palmer Salvation Army are working to change that. Beginning this week, they will offer after-school activities at the Salvation Army headquarters at 209 W. Evergreen St., next to Palmer city hall.

"We want to keep all the kids from congregating at the library," Dan Hughes told the Palmer City Council week when he announced plans for the program. "We're pretty convinced the program will take off and is needed in the community."

Dan and Verna said they ran the same type of after-school program in another town before coming to Palmer last winter and said they believed their new hometown had a similar need.

"As Salvation Army, we don't come in with a set agenda … we go in and look at what the community is in need of," Dan Hughes said.

The Salvation Army's program will run 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., beginning with just three days a week -- Tuesday through Thursday. Activities will include homework time, games, Bible school, music events, computers, crafts and movies. Snacks will also be available.

Eventually, the Salvation Army would like to expand the program to five days a week with more offerings. In the meantime, they are seeking assistance from the community to grow the program. They said they have met with the Boys and Girls Club, local churches and city officials to try to network resources.

Donations and volunteers are still needed. The Hughes are looking for computers, games, craft materials, televisions and monetary donations.

"We have nothing in our Salvation Army coffer except the $900 the Lions Club gave us to get this off the ground," Verna Hughes said.

While the Salvation Army will charge a fee for children to attend, "hardship scholarship" will be available to those who cannot afford to pay, and the Hughes say they need financial assistance.

During last week's meeting the Hughes requested the city council to consider donating around $5,000 to the effort. At the Sept. 23 regular meeting, the council is expected to consider the Salvation Army's request.

More information about attending the program, volunteering to assist or to make donations, people may call the Salvation Army at 745-7079.