“Did you bring cans tonight,” Skatetown manager Jerry Hamlett asks at the door as people steadily file into the rink on Piney Forest Road.
Skatetown began promoting two hours of skate time — from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday for just $2 and two cans of food — and the program has already received donations of more than 1,000 cans. On this particular Wednesday, Cardinal Village received the food donation.
“Our Wednesday nights were usually a slow night for us, so we figured why not use it to give kids something to do,” Hamlett said.
DJ Greg Gee has helped Hamlett since the beginning of the promotion, in addition to support from the Woodberry Elementary School staff and Tyquan Graves. Gee is a local DJ who has been involved in promoting events for kids in the community.
“In addition to food being donated, kids who ordinarily wouldn’t be able to skate because of the $7 admission can come out and enjoy the fun on the rink,” Gee added.
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“As long as it’s for the kids, I’m with it,” he added. Another donation that Skatetown and Gee made recently was 114 cases of water for Flint, Michigan. “It’s been amazing to see how people are willing to give back and help each another,” added Gee.
Parents also come out more and skate with the kids during Wednesday night skate. On a typical night it would cost a family of four $28 to skate for two hours. On Wednesday night, it’s only $8 and eight cans of food.
Matthew Howell, a senior at Tunstall High School and hockey player, said he enjoys being about to get out on Wednesday nights to skate and help a good cause. “I enjoy the atmosphere and environment. I’ve only been skating for two years so it’s a lot of fun,” Howell said.
“It’s an opportunity to do something when there’s little to do,” Gee emphasized, “try and think of the number of places [in Danville] that kids have a place to go that’s safe. There just aren’t that many.”
City Councilman Alonzo Jones was also at Skatetown on Wednesday and has been impressed with the turnout and positivity that Skatetown, Gee, Woodberry and Graves have been able to produce for the young people of Danville as well as the number of parents that are out participating with their kids.
“If we can just get parents to participate [in events], it will help keep kids safe and prevent bad situations from arising,” said Jones.