By Sean Patrick Murphy
Now in its third year, the Spot at Voorhees Town Center continues to draw students from the area.
“The Spot provides a welcoming environment where local teens come together and enjoy each other’s company as well as educational and supportive resources,” Cindy Weiner-Palmere, president of the board for the Spot and the chairperson of the municipal alliance of Berlin, Gibbsboro, and Voorhees (BGV) said. “The Spot is serving all student in middle school and high school from the Berlin, Gibbsboro, and Voorhees Area.”
The Spot is open to middle school and Eastern High School students, as well as enrolled middle and high school students living in Berlin Borough, Gibbsboro, and Voorhees Township. Eligible students may bring a middle or high school student guest.
The Spot, which was spearheaded by Weiner-Palmere and Teen Coordinator Toni Gottlob, Deputy Mayor Mario DiNatale, and Eastern High School students, opened in October 2008 after two years of planning.
Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT), which owns the Voorhees Town Center, donated 2,500 square feet of space and helped in the construction using several of its own contractors.
The Voorhees Township Committee contributed monies to assist in the initial operating budget and donation were made from various companies in Voorhees Township.
“The dream finally became a reality,” Weiner-Palmere said. “We currently have a board comprised of residents in the Voorhees area which worked diligently to have the Spot become a non-profit organization, develop activities, and continually fund-raise.”
The Spot teen center is partnered with and staffed by the Camden County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Inc.
There is an advisory board of high schools that meets monthly to plan both social, educational, and community service activities. Middle school and high school students volunteer to work at the Spot along with a Teen Director Sarah McCart.
“We have had over 120 students participate and attend ‘Open Mic Nights’ which are held several times during the year,” Weiner-Palmere said. “It has been successful in creating an environment where kids can come and participate in activities outside of sports and other activities at school.”
So what is the Spot missing?
Weiner-Palmere said she would like to see transportation provided for those kids who can’t make it to town center. Also, she would prefer to have the ability to stay open later when the Town Center is closed.
And, as always, the Spot is seeking adult volunteers to participate in fund-raising events.
“The Spot needs contributions of new products that would be relevant for the teens,” Weiner-Palmere said. “These donations are tax deductible.”
The Spot features free tutoring and homework help, wellness workshops, and college seminars. The center is also a launching pad for community service events.
The Tutoring Club of Cherry Hill has completed many practice SAT testing days at the Spot as well.
“We have tutoring, game tournaments, movie night, jams and dances, and open mic nights,” Weiner-Palmere said.
Sarah McCart is the director of the Spot.
“The number of teens we get in the Spot really varies from week to week, but since the summer has started we’ll get usually around 40 to 50 teens in a week, looking for a place to cool off from the heat and grab some snacks,” McCart said. “We end up getting a lot of the same teens in who bring in new friends every few days, so what started as a core group of 15 or so teens has really grown.
She said that, in the future, the Spot is looking to hold events to help transition middle school students into Eastern Regional High School, and teach college-bound teens in importance of good finances when they go away to school.
“We’ve been really lucky to have great teens that come in to be a part of our center,” McCart said. “Whether it’s our teen board or our volunteers, the teens really have their hands in the center and have been a huge part of making the space what it’s becoming: a safe, great place for them to hang out.”
The Spot is located on the second floor of the Voorhees Town Center, just outside of Boscov’s department store.
It is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Monetary donations to support programming may be sent to:
Voorhees Youth Services
12 Tulane Avenue
Voorhees, NJ 08043
