By Aleasha Sandley, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
ANDERSON — Twelve teenagers sat around a table at the local Salvation Army citadel shouting out what they thought Christmas was all about.
“Giving,” said one boy, while others exclaimed “joy” and “happiness.”
Madison County Sheriff’s Department Senior Chaplain Rev. Benny Santiago smiled when he got one answer.
“Jesus Christ’s birthday,” said one girl.
The answer came during a session of Project Hope, started by Santiago and his colleagues this year as a way to work with teenagers who had been through the county’s juvenile court system and could use a mentor.
Last week, the 12 teenagers currently in the program gathered for a Christmas party, where they received gift bags and ate pizza, and to watch two of their own graduate from the program.
“I was thinking we need to do something more for these kids,” Santiago said of his idea for the program about five years ago. “We’re filling a gap for probation and the courts system. They sent those who have been troubled.”
The program meets from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. once a week, and participants spend 13 weeks with Santiago and other mentors. They play basketball and other games in the Citadel, which is partnering with Santiago for the program, and listen to speakers who teach about the dangers of gangs and drugs and how to get jobs. The material is called “Talks My Father Never Had With Me” or “Talks My Mother Never Had With Me.”
Talking about life
Originally funded through a grant from the Madison County Community Foundation, Project Hope now runs from donations to the sheriff’s department chaplaincy program. Participants learn the value of interacting with others and how to contribute to society.
“First they get to interact with each other,” Santiago said. “They learn how to become gentlemen and ladies. We have rules of respect — no cursing, no sagging.”
Of the two graduates at last week’s meeting, one plans to come back and mentor other teens through the program, Santiago said.
“We’ve been having a lot of graduates make it through, so we’re really proud,” he said.
One teen in the program said he sits down with mentors during his time at Project Hope to talk about what’s going on at school and in his life. The Herald Bulletin is not identifying the 17-year-old because he is a juvenile in the court system.
The teen said he was on probation for theft and possession charges and that his probation officer recommended his participation in the program.
“It’s keeping me out of trouble,” he said.
The lessons learned at Project Hope are needed, the boy said.
“They are important for us to know,” he said. “Some people don’t understand that, but they are.”
The program’s eight volunteers help set up lessons with the teens, including introducing them to people who hold jobs they might be interested in, Santiago said. This year, the group has heard from an Army Reserve officer, martial artist, Air Force member, firefighter, attorney and musicians.
“These kids are getting not only the dos and don’ts, but you get the other part where they interact with people in the community,” Santiago said.
Contact Aleasha Sandley: 640-4805, aleasha.sandley@heraldbulletin.com.
