MILO, Maine —The Rev. Philip McGlauflin has a vision for the youths in his community, and he’s reaching out to other adults to help make it a reality.
The United Baptist Church minister’s vision, pitched to the Milo Board of Selectmen last week, is the creation of “The Cellar,” a pilot project that’s designed to offer a safe place for youths of all denominations to gather on Friday nights.
“The first thing we noticed when we came to town [June 2008] was that the kids had nothing to do. I mean, we do have great school programs, but after school and weekends there is nothing for them,” McGlauflin said Saturday. “The kids need something.”
He began Friends Club, an after-school program for younger children, which has an enrollment of more than 100, but he still saw a void for older children.
McGlauflin said older children face a variety of concerns that could be addressed through such a program. There are behavioral problems such as substance abuse, poor decision-making and a lack of interpersonal relationship skills; and then there are problems caused by outside influences such as a lack of religious, social, recreational, educational and occupational opportunities, he said. In addition, there are personality- or character-development-related issues that contribute to low self-esteem, poor motivation and lack of creative solutions, McGlauflin noted.
Resident and Kiwanian Edwin Treworgy told Milo selectmen Wednesday that he liked McGlauflin’s idea. “I’m all for helping kids. Kids need guidance, but they also need something to do,” he said. This program would help youths build character and confidence, he said. “I think this would be a great project,” he said.
McGlauflin hopes to raise $2,500 to start the six-week program in November to serve 50 students ages 13 to 19. The program, which would be held at the church, would offer a variety of activities and events, and would include character education and counseling and opportunities to address substance abuse and emotional issues. He is looking for area residents who would help support such a venture and the financial backing to make it a reality.
If the funds are raised and the pilot program is successful, McGlauflin would extend the program. “We have a long-distance goal,” he said. What he’d like to see eventually is the construction or purchase of a building that would serve as a self-supporting, regional, multipurpose facility for youths and local functions.
“We’re still at the beginning stages and we’re sparking some interest,” McGlauflin said. He said he is not asking for town funds, but hopes organizations in the region will help the youths.
“The timing is important. We have to watch for the doors to open; they have to be the right ones, so we’re not rushing this,” McGlauflin said. “We want it to be right, and it’s got to sustain itself.”
For more information on the project, contact McGlauflin at 943-5500 or philmcglauflin@hotmail.com. Those who want to donate funds for the project may forward them to McGlauflin, 8 Pleasant St., Milo 04463.