As part of the Camden County Police Department’s continuing community engagement and Unity Policing model, the agency resumed its open-gym basketball nights at the Boys and Girls Club in the Parkside neighborhood on Friday, January 28th. The initiative gives school-age kids a safe place to have fun on Friday nights, meet mentors and play and interact with their local police officers. The department also has resources on hand for mentoring, job information for interested teenagers and dinner and refreshments were served.
HoopIt Up is a weekend night where at-risk youth can fine the comforts of a warm gym, food, mentors and police officers who want to build bonds and play basketball. It was created and facilitated by Capt. Vivian Coley, the Camden County Youth Services Commission and stakeholders throughout the city.