New Ministry Spotlight: Youth Drop-In
Starting on January 8, Hillside will be launching “Youth Drop-In”— a weekly, after-school opportunity for local middle school and high school students to come to Hillside on Monday afternoons for a safe space to do homework, play in the gym, hang out, and share a meal.
This program will be advertised in Bloomington Public Schools, and any middle school or high school student will be welcome to attend—whether they are from Hillside or not.
Bekah Stoll is Hillside’s coordinator for Youth Drop-In, and she took a few minutes to answer some questions about this exciting new ministry opportunity—and how Hillsiders can jump in to support it!
Q: Where did the idea for Youth Drop-In come from?
Bekah: Teens in our community need a place to go after school. Booker Hodges, the Bloomington Chief of Police, wants to see students supported and welcomed in our city by having different activities and programs available that meet their needs. We are excited to join in on this!
Q: Tell us more about the purpose, vision, and hopes for Youth Drop-in?
Bekah: Our main goal is to provide a safe space for students to come as they are. We will offer homework help, skills classes, and will engage in conversation that can lead to us sharing the gospel message with teens. When Hillside is known by Bloomington teens as a fun and safe place to be seen and feel loved, we can encourage them to attend youth group and invite their families to join us at Hillside too.
Q: What are the current volunteer needs for Youth Drop-In? How can the Hillside congregation jump in to make this ministry happen happen?
Bekah: We hope to see individuals and small groups from Hillside step up and help create a welcoming environment for 6th-12th grade students. Volunteer needs include tutoring, shooting hoops with kids in the gym, teaching a skill (knitting, origami, juggling…) serving meals, and more. You can come to hang out with students the whole time (3:30-6:00pm) or just for an hour or two on Monday afternoons. We would love to have you serve with us!
Youth Drop-In is scheduled to start in just over three and a half weeks, so we are hoping to quickly build a team of Hillside volunteers (age 18+, post high-school) who are willing to jump in to help make this happen. Can you help? There are all kinds of ways you can serve, at the commitment level that works for you. Please complete this form if you are interested in serving with Youth Drop-In!
Questions? Reach out to Bekah Stoll, Hillside’s Middle School Leader and the coordinator of Youth Drop-In.