Reaching Out Former candy shop has a sweeter goal: to make every child feel important "The way you change a community is you change the young people and let them know they're wanted and they're worth

By JoANNE VIVIANO
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Rev. Gary Summerland has been known to play pool with gang members.
On a recent night, he came out victorious, and one of the teens quipped: "I know why you won. ... God's on your side."
Summerland, 64, hopes to convince those who feel unwanted or unloved that God is on their side too.
He opened Steel Valley Community Outreach center, on the city's West Side, in May. Ever since, the voices of children have filled the former penny candy shop at 2616 Mahoning Ave.
Summerland returned to his Mahoning Valley home in 2001 after retiring as pastor of a Baptist church in Michigan. Supported by the 38 churches of the Steel Valley Baptist Association, he decided to open the mission.
"I've always been mission-minded, and my heart goes out to kids who don't have much," Summerland said. "The way you change a community is you change the young people and let them know they're wanted and they're worth something."
Dianne Sebena played air hockey with her 8-year-old daughter, Krista Batcho, on a recent Friday evening. The West Sider said she goes through her neighborhood rounding up kids to bring with her.
"This place is about love," Sebena said. "It's main goal is to make every child feel important, to let them know Jesus loves them and we love them too."
Vast support system
The center receives support not only from parents, but also from local business owners, including a landlord that offers use of the building rent-free, those who donate food and pay utilities, one who gave a pool table, and another who plans to give a pinball machine.
Bob Maravola, owner of the new Unique Biker Apparel shop that neighbors the center, plans to sponsor a motorcycle ride to raise funds for the center.
"It needs it," he said on a recent visit to the center. "Anything you can do to do something for the kids ... to keep kids off the streets."
The center has a pool table, table soccer, air hockey and other games. There are encyclopedias, books, a stereo, a television, and crayons and coloring books.
A goal is to find some computers and start a tutoring program. The center works with staff at West Elementary School, who will train them to tutor, and has "adopted" the school, collecting school supplies this year with help from the 38 churches in association.
Another goal is to form a teen crew to assist elderly neighbors with chores such as lawn mowing or house painting.
"Everyone needs to know they're special, and a lot of these kids don't think they're special," said Mary Jane Gearhart, who volunteers at the center. "There are a lot of kids out there who have no structure. I think it's important to be there for them and help fill in the gaps."
Fun gatherings
On warm Friday evenings, the parking lot behind the center is filled with youngsters shooting baskets, spinning hula hoops and surrounding the smell of a popcorn machine finishing its popping.
"I just wanted to see how it was. Now it's fun," said Anqualnette Mayo, a seventh-grader at Volney Rogers Junior High School. "I used to be bored; now I found a place to come to and I'm not bored."
"This is a fun place to go for kids," added Jackson Elementary School fifth-grader Daniel Joseph Stilson Jr. "They have somewhere to go and hang out and play."
Stephen Horn, a Chaney High School ninth-grader, said he comes to the center to see other kids and to hang out with his family.
"Kids who don't go to church can come here and learn about God," he added.
Jesus is the focus
And they do. Joe Cappitte, from Upper Room Ministries on Meridian Road, holds a Bible as he halts a basketball. In a football jersey and knee-length nylon shorts, he blends with the others as he discusses why the youngsters should not fear death.
Christopher Martin, a fifth-grader at West Elementary School, said he'd be home playing football or watching TV if he didn't come to the center.
"They sing songs and preach and talk to God," he said.
Steve Zawilinsky, pastor of Upper Room Ministries, said as many as 150 young people show up at one time. At a summer block party, they saw even more and expect another big turnout at an October Harvest Festival.
"The basic thing we do is try to teach these kids about Jesus," he said. "I'll tell you, these kids get Jesus in their hearts, and it really changes them."