SUMMERDALE — Several months ago Michele's Hope, a non-profit in South Baldwin County, heard about Youth-Reach Gulf Coast, a home for troubled, at-risk and delinquent young men aged 18 to 21 located in Summerdale.

There was a great need for tools, especially to begin gardening and to keep the property in shape. Michele's Hope donated $2,500 and a private donor gave an additional $1,000.

Recently members of Michele's Hope visited the facility to renew friendships and to see what had been done with the money. What a fantastic story!

All summer the residents have been harvesting peppers, beans, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, cantaloupes and watermelons. The freezer is packed for future meals. The okra is flourishing and the young men are looking forward to a crop of lettuce, greens and probably a pumpkin or two in the fall.

Thanks to the donation, they were able to purchase the tools for farming, two lawn mowers and they were able to fix the two golf carts that are used in the day to day events, as well as take visitors to the various sites, the homes, the chicken coop, the garden and soon a Life Skills Building. Here they will learn building trade skills and hopefully learn to build furniture than can be sold to help fund the facility.

The Snook Foundation, Raley Builders and the Meyer Foundation have been instrumental in helping the faith-based group. Special thanks also goes to Deena McMullen at Elberta Farmer's Co-Op for her help and advice that made the farming endeavor a success.

The 81-acre facility features a home for 10 young men. The youths volunteer to enter the facility for a minimum of one year and agree to abide by the rules that are geared to help them change their lives. There are five levels of care.

Level 3 allows the men to get a part-time job to help them to pay off fines incurred before entering the program and to help them save money for the future.

There is no charge to the residents. Youth-Reach is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation that receives private donations and grants to fund the program.

There is no state funding.

Youth-Reach is a program begun in Houston, Texas in 1984. In late 2002 Gulf Shores Police Officer Billy Berrey realized the Gulf Coast had an increasing number of boys and young men who were in trouble, addicted and living in dangerous conditions.

He contacted his friend, Curt Williams at the Houston facility and soon began helping transport Baldwin County youths to the Texas home. More than 100 Alabama boys were served in Houston from 2002 until 2011. In 2005 a group of ministers, businessmen, city officials and law enforcement officers saw the need for a facility in the Gulf Coast area.

They secured the land and due to donations from area contractors and churches, the office building, two youth homes, a laundry facility and two staff homes were built. The Summerdale facility opened its doors in December 2008.

The Houston program serves juveniles 12 to 17 years of age and the Summerdale group cares for young men 18 to 21. For more information about Youth-Reach Gulf Coast, visit the website at www.yrgc.org or call (251) 967-4809.

Michele's Hope is a Christian-  and  community-based non-profit corporation for the purpose of helping Baldwin County charitable, non-profit organizations to continue and expand their programs, services and opportunities to those in need. The group was formed to honor Michele Prockup, a long-time Director of Catholic Social Services, and to continue her mission.

The donated money came from funds raised at a February event in Orange Beach. For information visit the website www.micheleshope.org.