Salvation Army Opens New Teen Center
Teens in Biloxi now have a new place to hang out during the school year. The Salvation Army Kroc Center opened The Bridge, a center just for teens.
“I come here very often,” said Diamond Charles, “I usually play basketball but today, I just came to hang out, you know.”
Teenagers like Diamond Charles have a new place to hang out, just in time for the new school year. What used to be Old Mary’s Drive-In is now The Bridge, a Salvation Army Center just for teens.
Major of Salvation Army Gary Sturdivant said, “We believe that this is a positive avenue to get these teenagers in here, to just look at life and look at themselves and see how they can be better for the community.”
The Bridge, located right across the street from The Salvation Army, has couches, TV’s, computers and more. The Bridge will be open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be video games, board games and much more. But that first hour is all about the books. “The first hour that they come in, it will be homework. They will be challenged to do their homework from that day. And we’ll also have volunteers in place, sometimes just to be a listening ear for these teenagers,” said Sturdivant.
Youth Outreach Director LaMarcus Jackson said, “I’ve been through some of the same things they’re going through and I understand the pressure of social media and days of athletes and days of just a normal high school student, now-a-days.”
Anyone of teenage years is allowed in the center. The center will also offer free tutoring in all subjects.
“I come here very often,” said Diamond Charles, “I usually play basketball but today, I just came to hang out, you know.”
Teenagers like Diamond Charles have a new place to hang out, just in time for the new school year. What used to be Old Mary’s Drive-In is now The Bridge, a Salvation Army Center just for teens.
Major of Salvation Army Gary Sturdivant said, “We believe that this is a positive avenue to get these teenagers in here, to just look at life and look at themselves and see how they can be better for the community.”
The Bridge, located right across the street from The Salvation Army, has couches, TV’s, computers and more. The Bridge will be open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be video games, board games and much more. But that first hour is all about the books. “The first hour that they come in, it will be homework. They will be challenged to do their homework from that day. And we’ll also have volunteers in place, sometimes just to be a listening ear for these teenagers,” said Sturdivant.
Youth Outreach Director LaMarcus Jackson said, “I’ve been through some of the same things they’re going through and I understand the pressure of social media and days of athletes and days of just a normal high school student, now-a-days.”
Anyone of teenage years is allowed in the center. The center will also offer free tutoring in all subjects.
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