Three years ago, Beth Christopher and a couple of friends started the Little Gem Community Center in Lake Linden. The grassroots organization hosts a variety of events and programs throughout the year. And connects with many parts of the community through family-centered opportunities. In the last two years, the community center has opened its gymnasium to homeschool students to host prom night.
We do teen night, I forgot to mention, and a lot of the homeschool kids come to teen night. And that’s just a cool thing. We have food, and they can do the open gym, or they can go to the theater, or they can go upstairs, and typically we have a craft or something going on for them. – Beth Christopher, volunteer, Little Gem Community Center
The little gem community center is located inside the former Saint Joseph school, she adds, and it’s been wonderful to see the space welcomed back into the community.
For the young kids, we don’t do a whole lot right now. But we need people to come, help us, and get things going. Because there are not enough of us to do all the things this place has the potential to do. But as far as new programs and starting back up. Teen night is coming back. And we’re going to do a kick-boxing class for kids. And their parents. If they want, they don’t have to participate, but it’s a lot of fun. – Beth Christopher, volunteer, Little Gem Community Center
Completely volunteer-run right now, the little gem community center is open to many ideas. The group has not become a non-profit organization yet. But Christopher adds, they hope to navigate that process in the future. The space has two massage therapists, a theater, a gymnasium, and apartments on the third floor.
It’s whatever we can make it is what it is. So we’ve been so lovingly welcomed with open arms into Lake Linden and all the programs we’re doing. The people of Lake Linden are so generous and so grateful that we have it and that we’re doing something. – Beth Christopher, volunteer, Little Gem Community Center
Those interested in supporting the organization or wanting to get involved should contact Beth Christopher with the Little Gem Community Center. Find more information online.
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