CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — Some parents are raising concerns about ads promoting jobs for teens as young as 13 years old.
The signs have been popping up on street corners around the Charlotte area and offer part-time work to teens ages 13 to 16, along with free transportation.
The signs only leave a phone number to call, and nothing else.
Kevin Smith of Pageland saw the sign after someone posted it on Facebook, and wasn't happy at first.
"My blood kind of boiled because I have a 16-year-old daughter, and I was wondering who was putting out signs," he said.
Channel 9 found the website of the group behind the ad, Carolina Youth Club.
Their site mentions fundraising, but doesn't give details about the job in the ad.
The program's director Jule Houston said it's a door to door sales.
"The teens actually fund raise, and they sell an exclusive line of candies, cookies and things like that, at local neighborhoods," he said.
He said this is the second year of the program, which aims to provide teens direction and teach responsibility and leadership skills.
They also provide activities teens can raise money to attend such as bowling, basketball games, cookouts, and other events.
Houston said teens in the program keep 20 to 30 percent of what they earn, and when they're sent into neighborhoods to sell, they all wear the same bright-colored shirts, and name badges with their picture and the organization listed on it.
"We never allow teenagers to go by themselves, especially at the age of 13. They always go with some of the older kids who are 16, 17 years old," he said.
Smith also called Carolina Youth Club to ask about the ad.
He feels better about the organization, but thinks they should have been more clear in their promotion.
"It's just bad marketing. Really bad marketing," he said. "But they're doing good things, I think. Good things for kids," Smith said.
Houston said he understands parents’ concerns about the ads, and agreed they weren't specific enough, and didn't provide enough detail about the job. The signs have all since been taken down, and will be reworked.