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Wednesday, July 01, 2009 4:22 PM Basketball camp gets kids off the street By Janet Conner-Knox Times Staff Writer For many children, lazy summer days mean swimming, summer camps and lots of activities. But Daryl Woodard, Smart Choices for Youth executive director, knows that for some kids on the east side of Wilson there is little or nothing to do. That's why Woodard and Alton Mitchell, activities coordinator for Smart Choices for Youth, are looking to help the children of east Wilson by starting a youth basketball league. "Children in east Wilson just don't have activities in their own community designed to keep them occupied," Mitchell said. "If children in east Wilson want to participate in the kinds of activities that are available to children in west Wilson -- like playing on a sports league or arts and crafts -- they need transportation to get to the activity. So many of the children in east Wilson are idle, and anything can happen when children are idle." So, beginning Tuesday at 5 p.m., Smart Choices for Youth will begin a basketball league at Jackson Chapel Church at Nash and Pender streets. Boys and girls from grades six through 12 can sign up and play ball at the church. The basketball camp is free. Teams will be set up according to age. Mitchell said there will also be movies on some Tuesdays for the children and refreshments. "Children who are involved with team sports and other positive activities have a way to stay out of trouble," Mitchell said. "All they have to do is get involved with an activity. That takes them from being idle to doing something structured and positive."
Ruby Jenkins' 14-year-old grandson Tyrell Jones is looking for something to do this summer, but his activities have to be in walking distance to his home on Pender Street. "I don't have a car, so I can't take him places for activities like other children," Jenkins said. "When the children are out of school, they need lots of things to do. When I was young I had to work in the tobacco fields. We didn't have time to sit around." Jenkins said her grandson has chores that he does, but after that all he has to look forward to is watching television. Jenkins said she is looking forward to the basketball league. "He is just a child, and he needs things he can do that will interest him," Jenkins said. "He likes basketball, and that might be just the thing to make his summer better." This is not the first year Smart Choices for youth has had a basketball league. Last year they held it at Vick Elementary School. "It gave the children something positive to do and let them be around positive men," Mitchell said. "Many of the boys and girls don't have fathers, and interacting with the men who are also involved is good for them." Anyone who would like to play ball can come to the church before Tuesday to fill out an application, or just come the night the games begin. "We need adults to come on out and set the example for these young people," Mitchell said. "You never know, you might be able to say or do something that would change a young person's life for the better." janet@wilsontimes.com | 265-7847 |
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