A group that supports under privileged children in Saint John is only a few weeks away from opening its new facility.
The Joshua Group provides food and activities for children and teens in the port city. The new building has been three years in the making.
“We’re all anxious, including myself, to get this up and get it going,” says group founder Bobby Hayes. “But it’s been a learning experience. We certainly met a lot of friends and new people we’ve never seen before and really watched how people in the community gather around these kids.”
Hayes says many of the local plumbers and pipe fitters associations have volunteered their time to get the building up and running.
“These kids have really enjoyed doing it, so when they come out of there with John or Hartly or whoever they’ve been working around, they’ll say, ‘I want to be plumber Bob, I’m going to be a plumber,’” says Hayes.
Hayes says it’s that type of inspiration many kids need to believe they can do what they set their minds to.
“They enjoy being here,” says volunteer John Grant. “Some of them may never have the chance to just do this kind of thing, you know get busy and maybe pick flowers, trim, whatever. There is so much for them to do out here.”
Grant says it’s important for the kids to have a place to come where they can learn and feel safe.
“These things will last forever with these guys,” he says, “It’s very important that they understand responsibility at an early age because they will that that into adulthood.”
The Joshua Group has been in operation for around 20 years. More than 100 kids come out to play and enjoy a hot day when they open.
Hayes expects the building to fully operational by October. Until then, kids will be able to play and learn while the work gets finished.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Blackford.
