Teen Reach

Lakresha Lucas

      On June 4, I volunteered at Teen Reach in Charleston. I volunteered once during the school year so I knew exactly where it was located. The children there are very friendly and it seem like they enjoy when there are volunteers there. The staff there is very friendly as well especially C.J (the director). While I was there I played the Wii with some of the children and then we went swimming. I had a great time with the children; I plan to do some more volunteering there throughout the summer. The service actively reflected concepts that were learned in class by having this program available to disadvantaged children. I networked with other college students and the director. I was able to ask the other volunteers who go there often about how long they have been volunteering there and how they like it. I was able to talk to C.J to get more information about the program. He mentioned how some of these children come from poor or unstable homes and he allows them to have fun and still stay focus in school. During the school year the children in the program have to do their homework first before they are able to have fun.  This organization can have effect on these children that come into the program because they are able to meet other children like them and they are able to go places that their family can’t afford to take them, such as the pool.

This assignment was a great way to get involved in community and to get some volunteer hours in. I feel that Teen Reach is a great program to have in the Charleston community because the children that go here are able to get help with their homework during the school year, they have some where to go to stay out of trouble and they are able to meet others just like them. If there were more programs like this in different communities, there would be more children staying out of trouble, and the children would have some place to call home away from home.