“There are a lot of programs at The Patch that you can participate in, and it is a fun and loving place to be,” says “Keenan”—a young man who has actively participated in programs at The Cabbage Patch for the last ten years.
Last summer, Keenan excelled in the Summer Super Stars competition. His dedication and hard work paid off when he was awarded a brand new bike, bike lock, lights and helmet, and an offer of free life-time service and repair!
“I felt really proud of myself [when I won],” he said. “And I was happy to have a bike.”
This bike and the accessories—rare possessions for many youth who attend The Patch—have paved the way to new opportunities for Keenan, who travels a little over two miles to get to The Patch almost every day.
“He has greatly benefitted from our Safe Urban Cycling Program and has attended four 100-mile bike trips already!” said Mr. Raz. “He enjoys riding so much that he has joined a local cycle cross team and is now racing. He rides for transportation, recreation, and competition.
“The think I enjoy most about cycling is how it makes my blood pump,” Keenan says. “And it’s fun.”
Like many children who excel in the programs offered at The Cabbage Patch, Keenan’s potential is boundless.
“He is well on his way to being a Patch scholar, and a successful member of society, and hopefully a future supporter of The Patch,” said one staff member.
Most importantly, Keenan is a shining example of the difference The Cabbage Patch can make in the life of an at-risk youth or child.
“Before I came to The Patch, I wasn’t very good,” he says. “Coming here has taught me to be respectful, how to make friends, and how to be a good person.”