Moose Jaw youth centre cooks up change
MOOSE JAW, SK—Fifteen years ago, Joe's Place was exactly that—Joe Dueck's 700-foot apartment in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, crammed with street youth.
Today, Joe's Place is a 24,000-square-foot building with seven staff and 100 volunteers. The centre will soon include a kitchen, paid for with a $50,000 prize from the Aviva Community Fund Contest.
"I saw youth destroying their lives with the same things that had almost destroyed mine," says 36-year-old Dueck. "I just started inviting them to hang out without booze or drugs."
As a result, hundreds of young people between the ages of 14 and 19 are regulars at Moose Jaw's only youth centre—with its 30-foot climbing wall, snack bar, video games, pool tables and sound and light show.
"At times, Joe's Place was the only place I had," says a young man nicknamed Shorty. "I got down in a rut and I honestly thought getting rid of myself was the answer, but thanks to Joe and his staff, I learned that I really do have a future. I would not be here today if it wasn't for Joe's Place."
In addition to feeding youth spiritually and emotionally through a Tuesday night Bible study, a work-skills training program and dance group and a young mom's support group, Joe's Place also provides regular meals for hungry teens.
"Food has become an increasingly important part of all our programs," says Dueck, who attends Hillcrest Church with his wife Karen and their two children. "We feed as many as 80 youth every Tuesday, 30 for our Wednesday work-bee and many more on weekends."
Until now, the meals have been prepared off-site and transported to the centre in volunteers' vehicles. But due to the centre's recent winnings—earned by beating 2,000 other goodwill projects across Canada through a record number of online votes—Joe's Place can now afford to build its own kitchen.
"I am so excited to have a real kitchen where I can help teach youth how to prepare a meal," says Leanne Plouffe, who has served at the centre since 2006. "And to be able to clean up after ourselves and do dishes in a real sink instead of a Rubbermaid container and boiled water! I'm so excited to see how this project will further the outreach and mentorship that we already do."
Moose Jaw local Sarah Wynn agrees. "Joe's Place has impacted my life greatly," the 23-year-old says. "I don't know where I would be in life if I hadn't met the people and learned the things I did. It would make an even bigger difference if there was a kitchen involved."
The new café will not only allow the centre to feed youth more effectively, it will teach young people culinary skills and generate revenue through fundraising luncheons. And with the leftover finances, Dueck hopes to build a computer lounge that will allow teens to do job searches, work on resumes and participate in employment seminars.
"We are very excited to see how God will use this new area," he says.
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