In its 86th year and after forming a partnership with the now former Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County, Baker Youth Club is offering after-school transportation to several local schools.
For parents looking for a safe and productive environment for their children after school, BYC is looking for easier ways for students to get to their facility at 765 W. Market St. in Warsaw.
“We’re in our 86th year and to my knowledge I don’t know if we’ve ever provided a bus to our kids,” said BYC Executive Director Tracy Furnivall.
Baker’s bus will pick up kids from Harrison, Lincoln and Jefferson elementary schools in Warsaw.
Kosciusko Area Bus Service already provides service to Sacred Heart, Eisenhower and Madison.
Permission forms must be filled out by parents, and a $25 membership fee will cover a kid for the entire school year.
While at the club, kids will get homework help from certified teachers and teacher aides.
A free after-school snack and dinner are provided daily.
There is organized physical activities for kids every day, and kids are mentored by an adult staff.
Furnivall said it was important for Baker Youth Club to have a countywide reach.
In doing so, the club has established satellite locations in Claypool, North Webster and Syracuse where students can get homework help a couple of times a week.
Currently, there is no transportation to the Market Street location for Claypool or Leesburg, but Furnivall said it was a goal of the club to service the whole community and plans are being made to provide transportation to more locations.
Next year will also see services provided to Milford and Mentone.
The club already works with the Bowen Center to provide services to residents of Syracuse and the Enchanted Hills in Cromwell.
Washington Elementary is already a scheduled school bus stop for kids.
“We’ve heard that one of the biggest obstacles for kids coming to the club is transportation,” said Furnivall. “They don’t have a way to get here. So that’s what we’re addressing by getting this bus up and running. Because this is a great place to get mentored by a wonderful staff.”
At least four to six staff members are on hand whenever the club is open.
Harrison students will be picked up around 3:40 p.m.; Lincoln students can expect to be picked up between 3:45 and 3:50 p.m.; Jefferson students can be picked up between 3:55 and 4 p.m.
The kids can then expect to be at the club by 4:15 p.m.
The BYC is open from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parents are responsible for picking up their children.
For more information, call Baker Youth Club at 574-267-8771. To contact KABS, call 574-267-4990.
Starting in February, a multi-part series will run in the Times-Union chronicling the history of Baker Youth Club.
