(Facebook/ Big Stone Community Committee)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community Projects

Big Stone drop-in centre receives warm welcome

Nov 21, 2019 | 5:07 PM

Faced with the issue of a lack of activities for youth in their community, the Big Stone Community Committee made it their goal last summer to fix it.

The drop-in centre was officially opened on Oct. 11 at the Fellowship Church, less than a week after a fundraising drive was completed. Two weeks later the centre was moved to a much bigger space, a portable classroom which Committee Chair Edmund Clarke described as a bit of a fixer-upper.

“There was nothing there but desks and chairs, and two washrooms and a sink so it was good enough for us,” he said, adding two weeks after they moved in, they had 30 kids registered.

The Big Stone Drop-In centre is not just for kids. (Facebook/ Big Stone Community Commitee)

From its humble beginnings, the centre has been a community project and Clarke admitted it was just his goal to provide a fun environment for youth in the community as well as the adults.

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“We had nothing in La Ronge, nothing in the downtown like the older days, when you could go down to the arcade,” he said.

As of this week, there are now over 50 children registered, ranging in age from four to 16 years old. Donations from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and the community have helped pay for the games at the centre (foosball, ping pong, air hockey), as well as the popular karaoke machine. Appliances and a new van have been provided with help from Child and Family Services.

Clarke said he would like to take the children sledding or snowshoeing, but explained those activities require money and donations.

“They need gloves and winter gear to go outdoors because to be honest a lot of them don’t have that equipment,” he said.

Edmund Clarke said he enjoys takng the kids on outdoor adventures. (Facebook/ Big Stone Community Committee)

In addition to the need for clothing donations, Clarke said feeding all the hungry mouths has been a challenge. The centre does receive some food donations, but Clarke noted it’s mostly all junk food and he would like to provide some “healthier” choices.

“If you are a commercial fisherman and you are out in the lake and you have seagulls all round you, that’s what it feels like when you have 25 to 30 kids,” he joked.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell