Cabana Colony kids attend Youth Center

Palm Beach Gardens - It's summer reading at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Youth Center in the Cabana Colony neighborhood.
The program is a joint effort between the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and local organizations, including the charity, Club 100. Harry Drier, president of Club 100 said, "It was established because there is nothing in Cabana Colony, there are about 830 homes, there is no place for the youth to go.

The program helps kids with their homework during the school year and brush up on their learning during the summer months. "We try to teach math, reading, spelling, leisure reading, trying to make sure that no skills are lost during the summer period." The program also provides boxing for the kids who attend the youth center.

There is something to do for kids of all ages. The children are also learning how to be great gardeners.
Captain Jeff Lindskoog with the Sheriff's Office said, "If we can work at the foundation which is the youth, and if we can keep them occupied with positive activities, what we offer here beyond just the games and a place for them to come that's safe, what we call a safe place, giving them the mentoring and tutoring who are volunteers with Club 100 and our other partners, Seacoast Bank. All of the people that want to add value to what we are doing here will hopefully keep these kids to stay on the right path, particular in school."

Mentors say the program also provides a growing relationship between law enforcement members and the kids. Captain Lindskoog said, "There is something other than this uniform, there are human beings that wear the uniform, we all have families, we all have kids, we understand what children are going through."