The Haven Christian Youth Center Welcomes New Director
The Haven Christian Youth Center welcomed Jean Cooper to serve as the director for the new school year.
Cooper, replacing Machelle Ryman, started as director in August after participating as a board member since 2018. She will now fill the role by serving as the spiritual leader of the Haven, assisting with Haven duties and activities, organizing the daily snack schedule, and promoting and implementing special activities.
After Ryman could not continue, the center advertised for a director. After no one jumped to the role, Cooper got word that she should do it.
The Haven Christian Youth Center is a place where children can hang out in a safe, fun environment. The center provides an opportunity for children to attend a place after school if needed.
The Haven Christian Youth Center offers children an opportunity to entertain themselves in a safe, fun environment while their parents are busy. (Barnesville Area News photo)
The center operates under the Community Christian Mission, which is affiliated with the Barnesville Community Foundation, making the Haven Christian Youth Center a nonprofit.
The center provides a structure that follows Christian values, including learning basic lessons with being kind, considerate and cleaning up after themselves, Cooper said.
Children participate in various activities, such as painting pumpkins, planting seeds, and playing the Wii. The center features toys, puzzles, books, crafts and more for children to entertain themselves.
Children at the Haven Christian Youth Center participate in activities, such as planting seeds. (Barnesville Area News photo)
Cooper went through each month and came up with crafts, thoughts or activities children can participate in for the holiday that month.
The center has a small space outside when children can go and play their favorite game: dodgeball, Cooper said.
Though it is still in the works, volunteers try to have an activity resembling a bible lesson once a week.
The center opens after school ends around 2:30 p.m. and closes at 5 p.m. This gives parents an opportunity to have their children spend time in the care of the center.
The center is open to kindergarteners through eighth graders. Middle schoolers ride the bus from their school to the elementary school, and then walk to the center, while volunteers from the center pick the elementary schoolers up by walking them as they hold onto a rope. Parents pick their children up when the center closes.
“The challenge is getting them to focus on what’s here … I do feel we need to be giving them enough enough room and freedom to do a lot of interaction … They’re in school and in sports an on their devices,” she said. “I feel like it’s a space where they can interact face-to-face. It’s important.”
The center has 16 children signed up right now and operates with the school schedule.
Volunteers serve children snacks, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, prepackaged meals and hot foods, such as chicken nuggets.
It is always accepting donations, whether that is monetary, snacks or crafts and toys.
The Community Christian Mission, Inc., a group of local congregation leaders purchased the building in 2013 for $49,500. A number of businesses, organizations and individuals contributed to the cause including those who gave $500 or more.
Now, twelve years later, the center only owes $9,500 on the original note. The center gains funds through donations from the community and churches. Cooper is hoping to pay the remaining sum off in a couple of years.
“I want to be able to keep going with the things of value that have been in place all these years,” Cooper said. “I want to keep going and come up with some new ideas.”
The Haven Christian Youth Center offers books for children to read in a safe place while parents are at work. (Barnesville Area News photo)
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