BOULDER The grand opening of the Panther Pit in Boulder was Sunday, March 27th. This opened up a new space for teenagers to come together and have fun.
There are always plenty of things to do in small towns. Beverly Jones, ex-owner of the Video Caf, said that they wanted to provide them with a place to call home.
Beverly Jones and Jeff Jones, her husband, offered free lunches to high-school students and a place to go after school. However, the building was eventually sold and a vital part the community lost.
After six months of renovations, The Panther Pit has filled the hole that the Video Caf left. Stuart Goodner and his spouse, as well as the volunteers they recruited, are all to thank for the success of the Panther Pit.
We raised three daughters, and it was very important to us that they knew where they were and had a safe environment. Goodner said that this is what they are trying to provide.
The opening day saw teens agree that Panther Pit was the place to be.
It’s great because there are so many cool places to hang out. And it’s nice for teens to have a place to relax, which is what Grace Day, a Boulder teenager, said.
It is a great addition to Boulder because it makes Boulder more enjoyable and allows kids to make friends. Rebekah Warren, a 12-year-old Boulder resident, said that she thinks it is a great addition to the community.
Matthew Wilson, Montana Highway Patrolman, is a longtime resident. The center helps ensure safety for teenagers in the area.
Wilson said that this gives teens a safe place where they can meet their friends and not feel pressured to do anything or get into trouble.
The Panther Pit will offer free lunches starting April 4th. High school students can visit the Pit for an hour and a quarter each day.
Members of the community are also welcome to reserve the building as a venue for events.
Stuart Goodner claims that the Panther Pit was a result of the efforts of a village.
Many people, from the mayor of the village to people from our church, have volunteered their time and energy to get it done. It was a long process, but it finally got done,” Goodner stated.
The Panther Pit still needs some items
- -Cup of Noodle Packs
- -Bread
- -Creamy Peanut Butter
- -Jelly (grape)
- -Chips
- -Cookies
- Pickles made with Whole Dill
- -fruit cups
- -Kool-Aid
- -Liters soda
- -Gallons
- -Fresh vegetables
- -Fresh fruit
- -Garbage bags
- -Napkins
- -Paper towels
- Hand soap
- -Dish soap
- -Paper plates
- -Paper cups
-Chalk
