Community Bands Together to Build St. John’s Residence For Boys Play Yard

By Kami-Leigh Agard

Since 1948, thousands of male youth have called St. John’s Residence for Boys, home. Over the decades, though the building on Beach 110th Street facing the boardwalk has drawn much ire from neighboring residents regarding crime and other quality of life issues, on Thursday, September 25, Neponsit resident, Tom Last, beckoned all to a fundraiser at the Belle Yacht Club for a $1.5M initiative to start a new chapter and help fundraise towards building a play yard for the boys and young men, so they have something more positive to occupy their time.

According to Last, “Donating towards building the play yard gives everyone a chance to put their thumbprint on a beautiful thing that would give these young men a space to grow and feel like they belong in the community. Instead of dead grass, we’ll see guys playing basketball, shooting hoops, feeling like they’re part of the community. And most importantly, show them love.”

Founded in 1826 as a home for orphaned children, today, St. John’s offers young men a respite from undesired familial circumstances as a nonprofit social services agency providing residential care to NYC youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The program offers holistic, trauma-informed support to young people up to age 21. And for the first time, the Staten Island location serves young women. The Rockaway campus houses a residential treatment center, close-to-home placement programs, administrative offices, clinical services, and an on-site NYC Department of Education District 75 special education school.

For St. John’s resident, Ethan Hinds, being in the Rockaway program has helped him, while trying to figure himself out himself while looking toward the future.

He said, “Being here has helped me, especially with self-control. Most kids my age are not thinking about the future, much less looking forward to it. Most of us are just living in the moment, but I’m trying to change that. The staff at St. John’s really helps you sit down and process everything. Go to school, get your credits, get your high school diploma, GED, whatever it takes to succeed. I’ve built relationships with staff members.”

As for the play yard, Hinds said he’s just happy to have a space to exercise.

“What’s really cool is that we co-designed the space. So, kids my age, we had input. From the ping pong table, basketball court, the exercise equipment—everything. I feel proud that I got to see how a space is designed, and got the opportunity to give my input,” Hinds said.

The blueprint for the play yard includes: a basketball court, garden, outdoor classroom, playground equipment and a library.

To make a donation and other platforms to support, including volunteering with planning, planting or painting, visit: https://www.classy.org/give/668325/#!/donation/checkout or call: (631) 599-3157 or email: Jacobsel@lfchild.org