Salvation Army gets in the game
Mentors step in to fill void left by schools
Written by: Deborah Circelli
DAYTONA BEACH — When David Howard was growing up in Daytona Beach,
sports became his outlet, and coaches were the mentors who helped shape
his future.
Michael Steward had the same upbringing in Michigan.
Now Howard, 45, and Steward, 37, both former basketball coaches from
Spruce Creek High School, are mentoring students in sports and academics
in hopes of keeping them on the right path and out of trouble.
The two are working with the Salvation Army of East Volusia and Flagler
Counties to provide basketball and other activities for elementary,
middle and high school students at the Salvation Army’s LPGA Boulevard
location.
Competitive basketball games have been ongoing the past month with 150
children as a way to fill a void with middle school sports ending in
Volusia County about two years ago. Some students from Flagler have also
been participating.
“Our goal is to keep kids out of trouble and give them something
positive to do,” said Howard, a teacher at Campbell Middle School. He
was head coach at Spruce Creek High School for 11 years before resigning
two years ago.
Another team will soon start with registration ongoing for boys and
girls ages 6 to 11. A team for ninth-graders has also been playing on
weekends.
There are more plans for a traveling team for middle school students
that will compete with other teams in the state and a basketball
academy, starting in April for all grade levels.
The focus of the activities is to help children develop not only
athletically but also to provide tutoring in classrooms at the Salvation
Army, starting in the fall. The activities are sponsored by the
nonprofit Bridge Building program, founded by Steward and Howard, who
now serve as program directors.
“We want them to be productive citizens on and off the basketball court
and explore what other strengths they have or things they may enjoy
doing,” said Steward of Palm Coast, who is an exercise physiologist at
Halifax Health Medical Center. “Everybody is not going to make it into
the NBA, but everyone needs a good education.”
Howard, Steward and other volunteers also hope to help this summer with
about 80 children in the Salvation Army’s summer program.
The Salvation Army has a lot of space in its gym since ending its
after-school program last year because of budget constraints. The
Salvation Army is still seeking grants to help not only with its summer
program but to start its after-school program again next school year.
“We’ve had a lot of parents share that a lot of kids in this area do not
have anything to do and they are wandering the streets a lot,” said
Capt. Enrique “Ricky” Perez, corps officer of the Salvation Army. “We
are just trying to see what we can do to utilize everything for our
young people.”
Eventually, the plan is to teach performing arts, such as dance and
music, including lessons in piano, guitar and other instruments.
Howard and Steward got help from area businesses to sponsor some of the
teams. While officials with the Volusia County school district said
their staff is finalizing plans to add back middle school basketball
this school year, the Bridge program will continuebecause, Steward said,
it focuses more on building skills and academics.
For the students, they are glad to get extra education from experienced
coaches.
“I knew it would help me build my skills,” said Austin Trott, 14, an
eighth-grader at Creekside Middle School. “They teach us about good
sportsmanship and not having a bad attitude.”
Kim Matthews, who is a teacher at Campbell Middle School, said the
program is helping her son, Gregory Smith, 13, prepare for high school
basketball. She said the program not only gives kids an outlet, but
positive male role models.
Eugene McGirt said the program at the Salvation Army has helped his
14-year-old son, also named Eugene, grow emotionally and improve his
basketball skills.
“I think that camaraderie with the team means a lot, too,” said McGirt,
whose two oldest sons were also taught by Howard at Spruce Creek High
School.
The younger Eugene said he’s learned how to shoot better and dribble. He
said if he wasn’t participating in basketball, he would be home sleeping
or watching T.V.
“It keeps me active,” said the eighth-grader at Creekside Middle School.
To Learn More
For more information about the Bridge Building program, call David
Howard at 386-882-7420 or Michael Steward at 386-473-2372.
For more information about the Salvation Army and its programs, call
386-236-2020.
Date: 2/6/2010
Section: Section C Edition: N-J Final
Dateline: DAYTONA BEACH
