APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Lighthouse Youth Center celebrated the grand opening of its fourth campus on West College Avenue in Appleton on Friday. LYC is a free, after-school and summer youth program for kids ages 10-18 that works to provide communities with a central location where children can gather safely for things like recreation, homework assistance, and positive adult mentorship centered on Christian faith.
The ribbon cutting event was commemorated with food trucks, music, and a tour of the new facility, which shares a building with The CORE, a 922 Ministry, with whom Lighthouse will work to conduct their services.
Pastor Jim Buske, the organization’s executive director, says, “We are so excited to partner with 922 Ministries as we open a new youth program in the downtown Appleton area. We are eager to get the facility open and partner with the church, the community, and families, providing neighborhood youth a place to grow and learn. Our goal is to be a valuable resource to youth as they grow to be productive citizenry in their schools, community, and homes.”
The new site’s director, Josh Fenske, highlighted the importance of youth centers like this, saying, “As for communities as a whole there’s a need for a safe space for youth to hang out. After school or whether the parents are working, or with other extracurriculars. They have a place here, they come here to hang out, get their homework done, get a snack, and learn a little bit about Jesus.”
LYC has three other campuses are located in the Milwaukee area where the organization has served over 5,800 young people since their inception in 2006.
The center’s doors open for regular hours starting on Wednesday. For more information, you can go to the organization’s website.
