The Vault Youth Center

Our Story:
From our good friend, Pastor Eric Hoke, whose vision began our youth center: "On my ride home from work, I observed, literally, upwards of a hundred teenagers hanging outside Quick Chek on Belvidere Avenue, bored. I would skateboard down to the basketball courts by the borough pool and play with some of the students. When I asked them all what did they do for fun? Their response was either: 'you're looking at it' or 'nothing...'

I began to wonder if the students that I encountered downtown had anybody adding value to them as humans. What was happening in their worlds? How could I show them the potential they had inside of them?

It became apparent to me that my influence on them was minimal but I wanted to create an environment where students could come as they are and be accepted, valued and mentored.

This was just the beginning of The Vault Youth Center."