The buzz around town

Last week the after-school program, Buzz Box, opened its doors to local youth in an activity room at the Heritage of Faith Church in Polson.

Long-time volunteer Nancy Hauserman heads the program, which offers children aged 6-10 a safe place to play and receive tutoring services on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-5:30 p.m. Children receive a hot meal and have the option of staying the night at the church on Friday nights.

“We don’t preach religion,” Hauserman said. “The children get a lot of attention here.”

Hauserman has been fundraising and volunteering her time for more than 11 years, setting up Halloween and Christmas parties, Easter events and game events. She gets youth involved with volunteering through the Good Samaritan’s Club, and yard saleing.

“I’ve dedicated my life to doing this,” she said. “It’s a seven day a week job.”

Volunteer Lindsay Dietz helps students with homework and supervises the game area.

“They’re a great group of kids, and I think it’s a good environment for them to be in,” Dietz said. She volunteers at the Buzz Box once a week.

Other volunteers at the program do so to earn community service hours.

“We’re teaching them to be responsible,” Hauserman said of the community service volunteers, who are also supervised.

Dogs are even welcome at the program. Hauserman said she is looking forward to the Valentine’s Day Dance this year, and hopes to have a live band perform.

The program is the result of recent donations and Hauserman’s efforts. The program received a grant from The Coalition for Kids and The Rotary Club. A van and various video games have also been donated to the Buzz Box.

Hauserman said she is looking at getting a pinball machine for the center, and additional video games. She said the Wii is popular, but said in the summer months the buzz box will hit the streets.

“It’s not just gonna be the game room this summer,” Hauserman said. “We want to get them outside.”

She said that with the recent donation of a van, she plans to take the children animal feeding, on an “outback” expedition, swimming at Rocky Point and to several fairs this summer.

KC Seheck, a fourth grader at Linderman Elementary, said she enjoys coming to the center with her friend Alana Fox.

“The games and the people that work here are nice,” she said.