People may say there’s no such thing as a free lunch - but that’s not true when it comes to the Waterdown Youth Centre.
The facility at the corner of Parkside Drive and Hamilton Street serves up lunch - in a safe and welcoming space - to hundreds of hungry teens three days a week during the school year. And that’s just fine with Satellite Director Eric Mainse.
“During period three and period four of the high school day, we serve free lunch,” he noted. “And we're getting anywhere between 100 and 150 high school students coming into our building per day. And so we're getting a range of students coming through and what we have done is we created a safe place for them to come and be themselves.”
Mainse says the local students who come into the centre, which is operated by Chritian-based YFC/Youth Unlimited, also have the chance to interact with “safe and trusted” adult staff members and volunteers, who have undergone police screening as well as training that enables them to recognize and assist teens who may be struggling.
“All the staff and volunteers are trained in liability insurance policies, and all the staff have assist training, which is the suicide prevention training, Mainse explained. And we just, we love making safe connections with students.”
He says that once the kids come through the door for lunch, they often discover the centre’s other programs, such as an after-school girls’ club, Monday night archery classes, and the Knox Presbyterian Church youth group that meets there every other Wednesday. All of the programs are free or offered at a nominal cost - as in the case of the archery lesson - to cover materials.
The building itself is a teen’s haven: there is a social space and snack bar on the ground floor while the basement is like a giant recreation area where kids can play dodgeball or floor hockey, ping-pong or air hockey, or try their hand at arts and crafts. Staff offices are on the second floor.
Mainse highlights another area that makes the centre unique.
“One of our really cool aspects is our professional recording studio,” he said, noting that two volunteers run the program where students can sign up to learn to play or to record using the computerized equipment. “The students come in and they get to be as creative as they want in music, and so that's a lot of fun with that as well.”
The YFC Waterdown Youth Centre was constructed in 2012, supported through grassroots community fundraising. As part of the worldwide Youth for Christ network founded by evangelist Billy Graham in 1944, it is a faith-based organization; Mainse stresses that students of all faiths are welcome.
“Our whole organization is focused on seeing the hope and potential in every young person, but also seeing every young person living fully in Christ,” he said.
Mainse, a WDHS grad and former Freelton resident, notes that the Waterdown YFC Youth Centre receives no government funding, and staff are all responsible for fundraising. As well, during the fall season, there are several opportunities for the local community to support them. Recently, they held their annual golf tournament, and there are several events coming up.
First up is Gala Gala Game Night, which takes place Nov. 1 at Connon Nurseries. Mainse likens it to a stag & doe atmosphere, with games, a silent auction, a bonfire and updates on YFC Waterdown programs.
“Traditionally, our gala has been a banquet style, full three course meal, catered and and like we do presentation, and everyone dresses up. But this year, we're actually going to try to change it up a little bit, just because we want to promote kind of the fun that we have at the Youth Centre,” he explained.
The Youth Centre is also partnering with the Road2Hope a 1k, 5k or 10k run in Hamilton that takes place Nov. 2. Individuals can register their own fundraising page to support YFC.
“We set a challenge for people to raise a minimum goal of $200 because that would cover their registration costs, and then there would be just over $100 that would come to our charity through that as well,” said Mainse..
Later this fall, the Youth Centre will host a Youth Unlimited Christmas Market. It takes place Dec. 7 at the Parkside Drive building and will feature local vendors. It will also be a great way for local residents to come in and see what they do.
“We're inviting the community to just come through our building, interact with our staff, our vendors purchase things and just get to know our building more,” said Mainse. “We'll have videos and slideshows with information. We really want awareness. We want people to understand that we are here for youth.”
For more information about YFC/Youth Unlimited Waterdown, or details about upcoming events, visit yfcwaterdown.com.
