Local nonprofit Youth Alternatives Inc. continued its efforts in 2024 to provide a safe place for kids to have fun and learn after school and during the summer months.
With locations at 1 Graff Street in Oil City and 1250 Elk Street in Franklin, Youth Alternatives offers local youths entertainment as well as education with their multiple programs.
Some of the free activities and services they have on offer for school-aged youth in Venango County include:
• One-on-one homework assistance, positive peer-mentoring and a meal is provided daily.
• Activities include STEAM, bowling, fishing, board games, pool, swimming and an array of summer outings.
• A safe environment for the youth during the summer months, Monday through Friday from noon to 5:30 p.m., with lunch provided during the summer from 1 to 2 p.m. daily.
• A weeklong summer camp featuring a large array of outdoor activities, which is free to all youth ages 8 through 16.
During the calendar year of 2024 Youth Alternatives had an accumulated attendance of 10,413 youth and served 9,561 meals. This is an average of 108 unduplicated youth per month attending the programs.
2024 was also a year of collaboration, with Youth Alternatives banding together with other social service agencies to provide quality services to all youth in the area.
The nonprofit believes that all youth deserve the same opportunities, no matter their economic status, and that the youth of today are tomorrow’s future leaders, and that, as such, it’s important to instill good values and encourage them that their opinion is valued and encourage self-worth and excellent work ethics.
Youth Alternatives Inc.’s Executive Director is Corrina Woods, and the nonprofit employs four full-time and five part-time employees between their two locations.
Those wishing to learn more can visit their website at www.yavenangocounty.org or call them at 814-676-5785 (Oil City) or 814-346-0188 (Franklin).
