Perth’s YAK Youth Services came with plenty of support to Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting for Perth town council, but in the end, this well-known organization already had councilors’ backing. YAK (Youth Action Kommittee) had been on the hunt for a suitable home-base at an affordable cost with plans to create a one-stop services hub for area youth. YAK was founded in 1996 and is one of the longest standing youth centres in all of Ontario. It’s a charitable not for profit organization and the leading provider of youth services in the Perth area.
They noted in their written presentation to the committee that COVID forced a shift in programming to offer online activities. Members of their team also joined the KidsHelp Phone, and they created a safe online space for local youth to gather virtually. The program that kept them the busiest was home deliveries of food, toiletries and activity kits. Over the last 12 months they’ve given out over 22,000 meals, sending out weekly or biweekly packages to youth and their families. New Partnerships were formed, resulting in an expansion of programs and resources.
They proposed co-locating at the town-owned building at 1881 Rogers Road with The Table, Firedawgs Youth Initiative and Jesse Swain Fitness with the possibility of welcoming Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth, Big Brother Big Sisters, and Lanark County Community Justice in the near future. Most of these groups supplied letters of support for this initiative.
The 5 year lease term would carry a price of $1875.00 per month and start on Oct 1st of this year. The committee unanimously approved the deal which will be forwarded to council for ratification.
Article by Brian Turner
