Have you ever heard of the Teen REACH Program in Quincy?  It may be one of the best kept secrets around and that is something that Dennis Williams and Mike Nobis would like to see changed. More people need to know just what the Teen REACH program is all about . So just what is it? Teen REACH is an organization that helps students primarily after school has dismissed for the day. The U.S. Census Bureau says half of 16 and 17 year-old students are "at-risk" of not graduating from high school and of turning to crime. But now Quincy's Teen REACH program hopes to reduce that number significantly and help put more kids on the right track.

Dozens of Quincy kids go to the Teen REACH center after school for help with their homework and just to have a safe place to go.  The Quincy Public Schools also transport these students to the center which is located at 811 Payson in the old Irving School Building.  Recently, the Adams County Health Department and Quincy Christian School teamed up to assist Teen REACH. Williams said the Health Department provides health education to kids and assists with implementing grant money. Meanwhile, the Quincy Christian school students help serve as mentors with the program.

The Teen REACH program is administered through the non-profit Two Rivers Council, which provides services to Adams, Brown, Pike and Schuyler counties in Illinois. Williams, who was recruited to manage the program based on his own personal struggles and his ability to overcome them, started with the Teen REACH program nine years ago. Nobis is on the Board of Directors and is hands on involved in the lives of these kids as well on a daily basis.

During the school year, it operates five days a week for students ages 11-17. What they need is the time of volunteers to work with these kids who just want someone (primarily male) to look up to for guidance. If you can be a consistent volunteer and are interested in being a part of this important program to change a young person's life for the better call 217-223-1927.

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