In downtown Muncie police officers aren't just arresting people and handing out tickets - many are spending their extra time with neighborhood kids.
Although the Police Athletic League (PAL) Club has a budget of only $0, it provides children of any age with an opportunity to participate in basketball, baseball karate, boxing, wrestling, tap dance as well as receive guidance from adults. A child, of any type of background, can find a home-like atmosphere and participate in various activities at 1405 S. Walnut St., for free.
"The whole idea that I have is that I think all kids are important whether they are young kids or a 40-year-old kid that's young at heart," said Donnie Garrett, director of the Muncie PAL Club. "The PAL Club gives people a sense of belonging."
Garrett said the purpose of the PAL Club is to make young children, from any background, into adults through following and viewing positive role models.
"The main purpose of the PAL Club is to police and community working together," Garrett said.
When the police are involved, it is usually of a negative nature, Garrett said.
"This is a program, they see police in a little bit different light. It lets them see that police are human just like anybody else. They have the same problems, they have the same goals. We're all human basically."
Officers have a great deal with the PAL Club still running, but the volunteers play a big part as well.
Volunteerism is what keeps the PAL Club running on a daily basis. From Garrett spending his day watching over the club, to the people who run the individual programs and dealing with each child, all time spent is voluntary.
"It's these volunteers and people that really jump in there and grab the bull by the horns that make that place go."
Muncie's current mayor, Dan Canan, has continually recognized and helped the club through providing vehicles and other resources.
"He's probably done as much as any mayor since I've been affliated with the PAL Club and hopefully that will be a measuring point for the next mayor to come in and say 'Hey, I think we can do a little bit more,'" Garrett said.
PAL Club and Ross Community Center teamed up to share expenses for the baseball program that includes 300-plus kids. Trophies, hats and shirts are provided to the participating kids for free.
"The PAL Club is there to help kids in the community, not make money. We provide as many services as we can."
The program that the PAL Club is most known for locally is boxing. Garrett said when Muncie people here of the PAL Club, they think of boxing. Yet the boxing program is the club's smallest.
"We have corner on the boxing market because it's just not offered in very many places," Garrett said.
Former Muncie PAL Club boxers have fought various boxing superstars at the professional level such as Davy Moore, Sugar Ray Leonard, Buster Douglas and Mike Tyson at the amateur level.
"You learn a lot (in boxing) about your capabilities and your limitations, and everybody respects each other here at the club," Garrett said. "We try and not to teach them to be better boxers, we try to teach to be better citzens. The goal is to take kids that are teenagers and make them reponsible adults."
Garrett said that the PAL Club is ideal for college students because the facilities are free and that they can be very beneficial to the club and to the children.
Students can get involved with the PAL Cslub just by coming in and signing a release form. Garrett said students can just come down and hang out with the kids making a positive influence.
"As a policeman, we're not public overlords, we're public servants. And this is one way the police department serves the public here."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
