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After-School Program At Peekskill's Kiley Center Offers Free Fun

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. -- For the past three years, the Kiley Youth center has been offering free after-school programs for children of the Peekskill Housing Authority.

Children take part in the Kiley Youth Center's after-school program, offered on weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

Children take part in the Kiley Youth Center's after-school program, offered on weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

Photo Credit: Renee Smith

From 3 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, the youth center, located at 709 Main St., has been opening its doors to kids to provide after-school enrichment.

"It's more of an enrichment program than an after school program," new program director Renee Smith said. "Kids do their homework, but that's only for an hour."

Children spend the next two hours taking part in activities such as arts and crafts and dancing classes. Children also receive a snack, and the center hosts holiday parties as well.

"There are all sorts of games as well - they jump rope, they play ping pong, they play a lot of chess, air hockey, and board games," Smith said.

The program has also started a mentoring program for girls on Mondays and Wednesdays and a boys mentoring program on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

"They talk about health, nutrition, the pitfalls of alcohol, drugs and tobacco," Smith said. "It's like a sounding off, they ask the kids what's going on in school, what's on their mind."

The program also sponsors field trips to places such as New York City to visit museums and the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Plaza. There are plans to take a group of children to see the movie "42" about Jackie Robinson in the coming weeks as well, Smith said.

The program is open to children ages 7 to 14. Registration at the Kiley Center is required.

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