As a kid growing up on the tough streets of Allentown, Alvin Wright loved his days at the Volunteers of America Children’s Center.

“I understand that I could be a handful at times,” the proud father will tell you today.  “At the center I always felt I was a priority.  I never wanted to be picked up early.  I always felt safe, always warm, always welcomed.”

“As a child at the center everything was great and it was everything I did not have at home. They took me to the park and they took me swimming.  I always felt like they looked forward to seeing me as much as I looked forward to seeing them.” Without the center life would have been much different for Alvin, who was raised by a grandmother unable to do activities kids like to do. “My education would have come totally from the street — where you see the drunks, the drug users and hear all the cursing.” Alvin said. “Monday through Friday I was at the center — eating good meals, being protected by people who loved me, playing in a fenced area and not the street. I was allowed to be a boy.

“I know at any second I can change a life just by giving positive reinforcement — pushing good grades, pushing college, pushing anti-violence, pushing the importance of respect, especially self respect.  Those positives are things you will carry through life.” 

Today Alvin works at Graterford State Correctional Institute, shares his positive messages with kids as a volunteer at the center and knows two important things:

The first is that he and his wife Angela want their son Anthony to be around people who love him.  That’s why Anthony is enrolled at the center.

The second is that the center’s green liquid soap that he so hated as a child because “it had a funny smell and stung his skin” doesn’t really burn after all.

It’s nice to be able to come back and see Miss Dolores (director of the center).  “I always tell her I’m going to make you proud of me.”  She always answers, “You already have.”