A Pierce County program to aid the development of boys has returned following a long hiatus. Boys to Men, a non-profit organization designed for youths ages 8-18, returned earlier this month after going dormant because of the coronavirus pandemic. The organization based in Patterson, was formed in 2007, and was active every other Saturday until the coronavirus pandemic struck in early 2020. “When COVID hit we didn’t know much about it and how to handle it,” said president/director Pastor Nathaniel Anderson. “We waited to start it back until it pretty much got under control. Right now, COVID is still with us, but it’s not having the same effects as it did back in 2020 through 2022. “We feel it’s now safe to go on and start back the program, but we do provide face masks for the boys, we don’t make them wear them in the center, but we do provide them.” The group’s next meeting is today (Saturday, March 18). It will be its second since reviving the program. The program is founded on the theme: “Your destiny, or your life, is determined by the choices that you make, and it is not by the color of your skin or by your background.” The director says the program targets the 8-18 age group because that’s the age where children start to grasp concepts. “We try to give them good information so that they can learn to make good choices,” said Anderson. The non-profit organization meets at 10 a.m. on the first and third Saturday of every month year round at the Edward Newton Bud Center, Tyre Bridge Road in Patterson. The center was formally an elementary school before the community purchased the facility. Anderson said the meetings usually wrap up a little after noon. There are no fees related to the program, which also provides transportation for those in need by three vans in Waycross and Blackshear. Anderson said he doesn’t want anyone saying that they couldn’t afford to participate. “We divide the boys up in to two groups, ages 8-12 and ages 13-18, and we do workshops,” the director stated. “We have somebody to come in and talk to the young men and try to motivate them and encourage them to make good decisions. “We’ve had people from all walks of life talk to them. We have had judges and prisoners come to talk to them. You can learn something from every aspect of life from somebody else.” Anderson said after the structured part of the program, the youth are free to participate in activities in the game room, such as pool, ping pong, foosball, air hockey or board games like chess, checkers and uno. There are also outside activities such as basketball, softball and kickball. “They can have some fun while they’re there,” Anderson said. “Also, we do have a cafeteria. We have a lady who comes in and prepares them a meal.” The organization relies on donations to sustain its work. Anderson said donations are welcome from any source. “If anyone wanted to donate, they can send it to our post office box (Box 662, Patterson, Ga., 31557),” he said. Boys to Men is a 5013c organization. It also is a Georgia non-profit program. “This isn’t something that someone just threw together. It’s organized,” Anderson said. “We have a board of directors. All the people who work with us are volunteers, nobody is getting paid. All of the donations we receive go directly into the program. “Our expenses consist of feeding the boys, upkeep of the vans, van insurance, fuel, insurance at the center, and to help upkeep the center.” All donations are tax deductible. Additional information on the program is available by calling Anderson at (912) 281-2622.
