Program to teach teens value of Hard Day?s Work
Some juveniles who get into trouble could learn a few lessons from a hard days work. It?s with that in mind, the Hard Day?s Work Program was created.
The first hard day started in 2004 by volunteer/ program organizer Joe Madden as a way to put a little more work into the community service program for those teens who need it.
?About four years ago, I heard some teens joking about what a joke community service was,? said Madden, who supervises the program with Mark Mara. ?That ticked me off. I said all right, now we will have some fun. There?s no joking anymore.?
Back then, the program had a couple of lawnmowers and a weed-eater. Currently, they have four lawnmowers, a weed-eater and a 6×12 trailer recently donated by McMinnville Trailer Sales.
Program members are assigned by their probation officer or the judge over their case. They are juvenile offenders who need to give back to the community while they learn a valuable lesson and perform their community service work.
?I tell them, go ahead and get in trouble because people will benefit,? said Madden. ?There are people who need the help. If you want to get in trouble again, these people will take your help. If you don?t like this, stay out of trouble. We supply the water or Gatorade but they have to bring their own lunch.?
If the thought of giving a hard days work on Saturdays isn?t enough to keep teens straight, maybe the sermons will.
?We take a break in the middle of the day and these kids get to hear me preach,? said Madden. ?They get to hear me talk about life skills, values, ethics and morals for an hour. I figure if the work doesn?t bother them, they?ll tell their friends they are going to stay out of trouble because they don?t want to hear me talk anymore.?
A Hard Day?s Work is affiliated with Kids of the Community and is only one of he programs the organization offers. The Trash Pick-up Program, supervised by Paula Smith, will be in its fourth summer this year.
Trash pick-up is for juveniles who aren?t in trouble. Unlike the Hard Day?s Work Program, this program teaches them that they get what they earn. If they pick up trash during the week, they get to go swimming on Friday.
Trash pick-up volunteers walk an average of three miles a day and begin as early as possible. On any given day, they will pick up 20 to 30 bags of trash.
The organization is currently looking for people who need some assistance with yard work and cleaning up, as well as someone to donate a storage building to fit their expanding equipment needs.
Current sponsors of the program are Ace Hardware, Underwood True Value, West Main Lawn & Garden, Davis Signs, Scot Market and McMinnville Trailer Sales.
Mowing is on Saturdays beginning at 8 a.m. and trash pick-up is on Tuesdays and Thursdays as early as possible. For more information, contact Kids of the Community at 474-KIDS (5437).