Bowling centers have a unique opportunity to serve the community while filling lanes during traditionally slow periods — such as Thursday afternoons, when most people are either working or in school.
Most people — but not all. An example: men and women with developmental delays. At Melody Lanes in the Sunset Park area of Brooklyn, N.Y., Thursday afternoons are devoted to individuals who participate in programs developed by Brooklyn Community Services, which is one of seven organizations supported by The New York Times’ Neediest Cases Fund. The Times reported on the Brooklyn Community Services’ bowling program in its Sunday edition.
“The recreation program is a wonderful outlet for them,” Jim Johnson, the director, told the Times. “It’s socialization. It’s camaraderie. It’s good competition. It’s inclusion in the community.”
Johnson added that while participants have numerous activities from which to choose — including softball, art lessons, field trips, etc. — bowling is the most popular.
To read more about the program and its benefits — for the community and the host center — click here.
