Donations benefit Police Athletic League of Kansas City
Kansas City, Mo. –
The Police Athletic League of Kansas City is adding a competitive target
archery program to its outreach efforts in the city’s urban core, thanks to a
donation of equipment by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the
Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation. The league’s fishing outings
received a boost with new gear, too, just in time for spring. MDC and partners
made the donations March 16 at the league’s gym and community center, 1801
White Ave.
Kansas City
police officers staff the gym, and other police officers and community members volunteer
their time to teach sports and values to youngsters. The league’s complex has
athletic fields in addition to the gym. Activities include sports such as football,
soccer, boxing, basketball. They also teach dance, offer after-school
activities and host neighborhood events.
“When we work
with kids with sports, it gets kids comfortable being around police officers,”
said Officer Shawnee Nix.
Sgt. Skip Cox
said the program reaches out to 800 to 1,000 youngsters and their families.
Some are helped through tough situations in their neighborhood such as poverty
or crime. Officers see people with difficult challenges. But they’ve also had
success steering youngsters on to careers or college.
“To get them to
feel safe, that’s what we do here,” Cox said.
Now, competitive
target archery based on the Missouri National Archery in Schools Program
(MoNASP) will be worked into the league’s activities. The Missouri Conservation
Heritage Foundation provided funding for bows, arrows, targets, and a target
curtain valued at almost $1,200. An MDC staffer made and donated floor quivers
to hold arrows. The simple compound bows are easy to shoot and MoNASP safety
protocols allow participants of all ages and physical abilities to be
competitive and enjoy success. Target archery is fun and builds self confidence
in youngsters.
“This is going
to give our kids something more than athletics to do,” Nix said.
Once the
youngsters are trained, Nix plans to take them to observe and then shoot with
the MoNASP participants at the Nashua Elementary School in the Northland.
The league also
received a donation of fishing rods and reels from the Nathan’s Catch
Foundation. Making the presentation was Russell Giron of Lee’s Summit. His family
started the foundation in honor of his late son who loved the outdoors. Giron
was also present at the donation as a board member for the Missouri
Conservation Heritage Foundation.
“We’re trying to get kids fishing and in the
outdoors,” Giron said. “We have a lot of things in our state that kids can do
that are to the advantage for kids.”
MDC staff told
officers that MDC offers additional outdoor opportunities such as educational programs at nature
centers in the Kansas City area and the Discover Nature — Fishing program.
Also in
attendance for the donations were Kansas City Mayor Sly James and Missouri
state representatives from the Kansas City area including Ingrid Burnett, Brandon
Ellington, and Daron McGee.
For more
information about the MoNASP archery program, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZSE. To learn
about MDC’s free Discover Nature — Fishing program that teaches families
angling skills, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z4y.
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