A place for youth in Deer Park
Mary Lentz feels an understandable pride in what's happened at a Deer Park storefront known as The Center -- even though her husband, Del, died a year ago while working on the project. The center has pool tables, foosball tables, air hockey -- even skateboard ramps -- and its giving kids in town a place to go, hang out, have some fun, and get a meal. If they take in a message about Jesus Christ, Lentz says, all the better, but it's not a requirement.
Section:Picture story
A Place for Youth in Deer Park, Director Jim Sibley, right, and volunteer Mary Lentz, left, prepare to hang drapes to save on energy costs to heat the former grocery store space Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011. The non-profit youth center, staffed by volunteers, has been run on a shoe string for several years. It’s open in the afternoons until early evening and gives kids a place to play games and hang out. The evening always ends with a short Bible message by director Jim Sibley.
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James Sibley, 14, second from left, says the prayer before the free meal served in the former grocery store space Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011.
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Mary Lentz dishes up a simple meal of tuna casserole to Jose Garcia, 11, right, in a former grocery store space Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011.
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Kids eat a simple meal while others play on skateboard ramps shoehorned into the former grocery store space Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011. The kids are, clockwise from left, Cynthia Alvarado, 15; Rebecca McQuilkin, 16; Jacob Kelsey, 14; Tristen McQuilkin, 11; and Ricardo Alvarado, 13. On the skate ramp is Kurtis Cantrell-Smith, 16.
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Volunteer Tom Safford repairs an old ping pong table while young people play other games Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011.
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