Staff Writer

A group of men are striving to make Pike County a better place by helping its youth.

On Sept. 21, members of The Careermen’s Club will host a lock-in for boys in sixth, seventh and eighth grade.

"It is our desire to be positive role models for the young men in our city and to provide good, clean fun and entertainment for them," said Willie Parker, advisor for the club.

Plans are to "lock in" the boys at 6 p.m. in the Joel Witherington Family Life Center on Three Notch Street until heading out for the Charles Henderson High School Homecoming game.

Upon returning to the center, participants will have plenty of pizza and activities to keep them busy.

Vaughn Daniels, president of the club, said the event will be a "boys night out" to give the youth a chance to talk to an adult about any problems.

"Our focus is to work with the youth and elderly," Daniels said. "This is a chance to get the kids alone and talk to them…and, hopefully, steer them in the right direction."

Daniels said club members want to be "big brother" figures for the middle school boys.

Through the night, club members will be on hand to talk one-on-one with the boys to provide positive reinforcement and a person to listen.

"We just want to be here for the kids," Parker said.

Saturday morning, breakfast will be provided and the Rev. Carl Hollis will speak before the boys are picked up at 8 a.m.

Parker said boys must be dropped off and picked up by parents. He said the boys will be supervised around the clock.

The club sponsored a lock-in several years ago and Parker decided to try it again after leaving church one Sunday. He was heading home when he came across four boys on bicycles and had just taught a Sunday school class with three in attendance.

"We’re trying to do a lot of stuff in the community," said Shelby Tuck, a member of the Careermen’s Club.

Parker said the club has been around for 13 years and has a long history of "doing positive things in the community."

Members of the Careermen’s Club have worked Troy State University football games, sponsored a youth baseball team, provided smoke detectors to Pike County senior citizens and funded scholarships since the club’s inception in 1988.

"Our primary goal is to provide services for youth and the elderly," Parker said.

The club’s motto is "Everyone deserves a chance" and members strive to make sure all youth do.

Any parent interested in having his or her son participate in the lock-in can call Parker at 566-5885, the Family Life Center at 566-1098 or club member Robert Jones at 566-9349.

LOCKIN