CATLETTSBURG — Touching the lives of local youth to prevent drug abuse is the goal of a new program spearheaded by a Boyd County couple and Sheriff Terry Keelin.

Tom and Mindy Hanshaw are teaming with Keelin and the Boyd County Fiscal Court to open a youth center and boxing club on U.S. 60 near Rajah’s. The hope is to quickly grow the center — now in the former Soccer Locker location — to a much larger center that offers a variety of recreational and academic activities to Boyd youth.

The Hanshaws want to create a program where youth and law enforcement interact to build relationships and ensure the next generation is drug free. Tom Hanshaw said the program has been his dream for several years but recently was moved to make it a reality.

“I’ve seen kids not have nothing, not do nothing, can’t afford to do nothing and I just can’t handle that,” he said. “The kids have nothing to do. Everyone knows this. We have to get them together and get with the police. Somebody’s got to do something. We’re losing kids every day to pills.”

The couple approached the fiscal court for support, and the plan was enthusiastically received.

Commissioners pledged to help fund the organization initially, and Keelin got on board to get the program sanctioned under the National Police Athletic League. PAL is a national organization that seeks to utilize educational, athletic and recreational activities to foster positive relationships between police and youth to prevent crime and drug use.

Keelin said this type of program is sorely needed in Boyd County. He is confident his officers, along with other area law enforcement agencies, will lend their support.

“I think we can be a positive influence on their lives, which may cause them not to do things that otherwise they may,” Keelin said. “If we can be a presence, maybe they won’t get into drugs, maybe they won’t get into other sorts of trouble. It’s prevention — trying to prevent them from doing these things they shouldn’t.”

Tom Hanshaw, who has been involved with the Westwood Boys Club since his own youth and coaches the youth boxing program there, said he’s seen what a difference these types of programs can make.

“What it’s about,” he said, “is kids that can’t afford anything. You feed them, take care of them, take them places they’ve never been before. These days, parents don’t have the money to send kids off to see things.”

The boxing program is free to all with the exception of a $45 fee that must be paid to USA Boxing for insurance coverage. Tom Hanshaw said if a child cannot pay the fee, a sponsor will be sought to cover the cost.

All other programs, when they are added, will be offered free, he said.

Keelin is looking for volunteers, including professionals from the medical, legal, educational, religious, financial and law enforcement fields, to serve on a board of directors.

“I want a board that reflects all the issues that our people are involved in,” Keelin said. “I think we need to touch on all bases. Our kids are going the wrong direction. We’ve got to try to do something to pull them back. Maybe involvement in something will keep them going in the right direction.”

Keelin and the Hanshaws stressed the program is just getting started. Boxing is the first sport because “you have to start somewhere,” Tom Hanshaw said.

“The only thing I knew to do was to try to get something going,” he said. “There are good people in this town and it’s time to start putting the money back into the kids. They are the future. If we don’t take care of them, who will?

“It’s about the kids. If we don’t save the kids, what’s their generation going to be like? It ain’t looking good right now.”

Mindy Hanshaw said the group hopes to offer concerts featuring local youth bands and to have dances every weekend. She would also like to add tutoring and other academic programs as soon as possible. “There are just so many options out there,” she said.

Once additional services are added, proceeds from events will go toward providing additional youth activities. Scholarship funds for students who cannot afford to participate in other school-based programs will also be created.

For more information, call the Hanshaws at (606) 571-7938.

CARRIE KIRSCHNER can be reached at ckirschner@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.