Just behind Hattie Jane’s, adorned with a yellow facade, sits the recently opened Our House Youth Center. The goal of the center is to provide an open setting for teenagers in the area to come relax, play games, and be social.
The center’s doors opened in November. It is operated by Our House Youth Ministries, a nonprofit with a charitable mission.
Board President and Director Liz Lancaster envisioned Our House as a refuge from the temptations of rampant drug use throughout West Virginia, and closer to home in Tucker County. “If they have a problem, our goal is to make the connections to the people that can help them,” Lancaster said.
But the couches and games in the center are not just for teenagers struggling with drug or alcohol use. All teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 are welcome at the center regardless of their religious beliefs or socio-economic status.
“I want kids to know no matter what their situation is, this is a place they can find safety and security,” Lancaster said. She stressed that teenagers will not be subject to preaching or religious scrutiny.
Logan Evans is on the Board of Directors, but also volunteers his time to staff the center. “Growing up in Tucker County, when I was in high school, the only fun things to do were drink, party, and play in the mud,” Evans said. “I want to help show kids there are fun things to do besides drinking and drugs.”
Mill Race Park is conveniently situated adjacent to the center, and with the Parks and Recreation Commission’s plan to build a basketball court in the spring, the volunteers at the center hope the park will be an attractive draw.
The center is in the back garage of Murl Nestor’s apartment building, known as the “old Swartz building,” located on First Street. Inside, there is plenty to keep teenagers of different ages and interests busy. Arcade games, game consoles, board games, foosball, art supplies, reading materials, and movies are all available for use.
“Our House was designed with the input of local teens through a cooperative effort between the board of directors and various Tucker County High School students and alumni,” a press release stated.
In 2011, the idea of a youth center spurred in Lancaster’s mind. After years of private fundraising and numerous obstacles, competing against 400 applicants, Our House Youth Ministries was one of 40 chosen as the recipient of a $25,000 grant. The grant applicants competed on Facebook through public votes. “We never dropped out of the top 40,” Lancaster reminisced.
The grant allowed the Our House to hire contractors to finish the work. “A lot of that grant money is in these walls,” Lancaster said, while sitting on a couch in the center.
Those interested in visiting can check the center’s Facebook page for operating hours, which are typically Saturday afternoons.
The adults who staff the center are board members and volunteers. Every adult who works at the center passed a background check and received applicable trainings before they were approved to work. Volunteers and donations are needed to keep the center open to teenagers. Lancaster estimated that yearly costs will run between $6,000 to $8,000. Teenagers who volunteer will receive community service hours.
In addition to providing games, the center offers tutoring service in a classroom adjacent to the main room of the center. Our House Youth Ministries plans to relocate a substance abuse intervention program, called The Landing, from a nearby church to the center.
For now, Young Life meetings have utilized the center for their biweekly meetings. Lancaster and the supporting cast of Our House are excited for teenagers to come take advantage of a welcoming, and free, reprieve from the stresses of adolescence.
To inquire about the center, volunteer, or donate, contact Liz Lancaster at 304-478-4186, email ourhouseyouthministries@gmail.com, or check the youth center’s Facebook page.
