After 11 years of providing a safe place for children to congregate after school, Biddeford’s Joyful Harvest has closed its doors.
A farewell party held last Thursday marked the final day of programming, and the annual Kids Shopping and Pancake Breakfast this past weekend wrapped up more than a decade of Joyful Harvest’s continued, positive presence in downtown Biddeford.
Despite struggles in recent years to get enough funding, the center always seemed to find a way.
But the final blow of the loss of its long-time leader, Director Shay Stewart-Bouley, and the inability to find a replacement for her, led to the board of directors making the decision to close.
With the closure, the absence of the center’s programming will certainly be felt. Joyful Harvest provided after-school and summer programs for many children that included activities like arts and crafts, games, and educational activities and support ”“ all at no cost to children or their families.
The gap, Stewart-Bouley said, she hopes will be filled by other organizations like the Community Bicycle Center, churches and the YMCA, which have after-school programs.
That will be key in a community where 35 percent of school-age children live at or under the poverty level, according the Joyful Harvest website. Having a supervised, safe place to go after school to hang out, participate in activities, get help with homework and get a snack is important for children who may not be able to get that support at home. Having that sense of community with their peers and adults in the city is also a factor that kept kids coming back, day after day, year after year, instead of hanging out with kids who are getting into trouble after school and making bad choices.
One concern for the future is the lack of place for kids to go in the downtown and the accessibility of free programs.
The YMCA is located off of Alfred Street, far from the downtown, and it is not safe for younger children to walk there. And while there are financial support programs, the YMCA’s offerings have a cost to families.
Hopefully, the Community Bicycle Center, which offers free programming to youth, and others in the downtown will be able to absorb some of the children who were attending Joyful Harvest to offer them a safe place to go after school where they can learn new skills and enjoy activities with their peers.
Joyful Harvest has done a great job of supporting Biddeford’s at-risk youth in the downtown area, and we thank all those who have supported the organization through the years, especially the volunteers and staff who have worked so tirelessly to keep the organization going.
Ӣ Ӣ Ӣ
Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham Rousseau on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
