To the Editor:

Thank you Derek Sullivan for requesting, and thank you Wareham voters for approving, funds for a summer jobs program for Wareham youth at last fall’s Town Meeting. This initial program, though definitely small compared to the number of young people who want to work, is an important step in letting our youth know that their town cares about them.

I am regularly at three of the locations where young people have been placed. I can tell you that the supervisors/program directors are excited to have the young people and the young people are excited to be working. The job site that I am most pleased about is the one at Woods of Wareham.

For the last five years, I have been in and out of Woods at Wareham three to five times a week as I assist someone who lives there. I have also helped bring programs to the site. It is a pleasure to work with the residence services coordinator, who goes above and beyond to make sure “her” kids have as many opportunities as other Wareham kids. She has done this by engaging the Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA to figure out ways to get kids off site to those programs. You should hear the excitement in these kids’ voices as they return from one of these programs. Kudos to the Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA for understanding that these are Wareham kids who need as many positive experiences as possible and they found ways to make it happen.

This brings me back to our beautiful, talented hardworking youth who have been given the opportunity to represent other teens in the town, earn some money and provide a much needed service to their job site. However, in my opinion, what is equally, if not more important is that impressionable children ages 6 to 12, have these teens as positive role models. Who knows what the long lasting effect will be on these children.

Lastly, if I may, I encourage every selectman and school committee member, if they haven’t done so already, to visit Woods at Wareham and learn of the good work being done, sometimes under very difficult circumstances. This will insure that you have a fuller understanding of another aspect of the town. Residents, perhaps you have some time to donate during the school year to help with homework or do a craft or help at Christmas - remember these are “our” kids in “our” town. If nothing else, just remind others that real people live at Woods of Wareham and for the most part are doing the best they can just like yours and my neighbors.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Barbara Sullivan