NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There has been a community of young people building a safe place at the First Baptist Church over the past decade.
It's a place where kids can be themselves, experience no judgement and get along with others from a wide range of backgrounds. Not only do they feel part of the community there, but they also spend time doing good work for the community.
"The best times in my life as a kid was being in youth group," said Leah LeFebvre, who was a member until she aged out.
But found she really missed the fellowship and within a couple of years, she was back as one of the four core adult leaders.
While adults like Terri Braman, the family life minister, describe the youth group for middle and high school students as a family, the young members are quick to point out it's better than a family because it's completely open to anyone.
You don't need to have been born in a certain place, or go to a certain school, or belong to a specific church, or any church at all. The kids rally around each other, support each other, make everyone feel welcome and valued.
A recent conversation with a few of the members quickly got to the core of this group.
"Work has to be done so I do it. I do it because it makes me feel good to do it," said member Liam, while Lydia, another member, added, "It's just making sure people feel loved and part of a community."
"It's not just fellowship," Braman chimed in, "we are here to help."
There are about 35 young people currently involved. They all volunteer a minimum number of hours at organizations in the community as well as participating in the youth group events at the church.
Last month, they hosted more than 100 diners at a Thanksgiving meal with sit-down service, menus and real chinaware dishes. They annually hand out free hot cocoa at the city's downtown tree lightings and recently distributed of 400 "blessing bags" with gloves, socks, soap, shampoo, granola bars, lip balm and other useful items to those in need in North Adams.
The group is also working on the Christmas play that will be presented during the morning worship at 10 on Sunday, Dec. 24. While younger children are acting in the play, the youth group members have been working on the sets and costumes and will assist with stage changes during the play.
Their volunteerism hasn't gone unnoticed. They've twice been nominated for Neighborly Awards from the Northern Berkshire Community Coaltion, including at this year's recognition event.
"Whether it is trash cleanup, or setting up a community event, this group always offers a helping hand with energy enthusiasm," said NBCC Executive Director Amber Besaw in presenting the certificate.
Each year the group goes on a spring break mission trip to help in cities across North America. Last year, youth group members, leaders and chaperones assisted Love On Hamilton, an organization serving people without homes in Hamilton, Ontario. Not only did the group make a difference helping in Hamilton, but the Canadian experience also gave them insight into the realities of living without a home that has made them more understanding and empathetic back home in North Adams.
They've previously gone to the Washington, D.C., area and next year will travel to Nashville, Tenn.
Helping has a cost attached to it. In addition to their volunteering at community organizations and their work through the church, they participate in fundraising a significant amount of money.
Fundraising events coming up include Parents Night Out, an opportunity for parents to go out and do some holiday shopping or just have a break from their kids. They can drop their children off on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 6 to 9 for a Christmas-themed evening of crafts, snacks, movies, and more with the youth group. The fee per child is $10 and the maximum fee per family is $30.
The fundraising will continue in the new year with a spaghetti dinner in January, a Valentine's Parents Night Out event in February and a pancake breakfast with the Easter bunny in March. Previous fundraising has included car washes, candy bar sales and selling items at local events such as the Downtown Celebration.
Any young person in Grades 6 through 12 is welcome to join the group. There is no religious affiliation required. They meet on the first and third Sunday of the month from 11 to 12:30 at the church. For more information, contact the church at office@fbc.net or 413-663-3780.
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North Adams Hopes to Transform Y Into Community Recreation Center
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Mayor Jennifer Macksey updates members of the former YMCA on the status of the roof project and plans for reopening.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city has plans to keep the former YMCA as a community center.
"The city of North Adams is very committed to having a recreation center not only for our youth but our young at heart," Mayor Jennifer Macksey said to the applause of some 50 or more YMCA members on Wednesday. "So we are really working hard and making sure we can have all those touch points."
The mayor said the city will run some programming over the summer until an operator can be found to take over the facility. It will also need a new name.
"The YMCA, as you know, has departed from our facilities and will not return to our facility in the form that we had," she said to the crowd in Council Chambers. "And that's been mostly a decision on their part. The city of North Adams wanted to really keep our relationship with the Y, certainly, but they wanted to be a Y without borders, and we're going a different direction."
The pool was closed in March 2023 after the roof failed a structural inspection. Kyle Lamb, owner of Geary Builders, the contractor on the roof project, said the condition of the laminated beams was far worse than expected.
"When we first went into the Y to do an inspection, we certainly found a lot more than we anticipated. The beams were actually rotted themselves on the bottom where they have to sit on the walls structurally," he said. "The beams actually, from the weight of snow and other things, actually crushed themselves eight to 11 inches. They were actually falling apart. ...
The fate of the facility attached to Brayton School has been in limbo since the closure of the pool last year because of structural issues and the departure of the Berkshire Family YMCA in March.
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