UNION COUNTY, N.C. — A local woman is sounding the alarm about a summer program she fears is putting kids at risk.
She said vans are dropping kids off in random neighborhoods to ask for donations.
Channel 9 learned they are part of Carolina Youth Club, an organization we investigated last year.
Eyewitness News anchor Brittney Johnson asked if the practice is putting kids at risk.
A woman said she saw two children as young as 12 years old dropped off in her neighborhood, expected to walk door-to-door for eight hours in the sweltering heat without water or even cellphones.
“It’s just not safe,” the woman, who did not want to be identified, said.
She said when two children showed up at her Union County home asking for donations for the Carolina Youth Club, she was suspicious.
“If they earn enough sales, that's what they called it, then they would earn enough to take a trip to Six Flags,” the woman said.
She said they gave her a tattered, expired charitable license certificate and offered cookies in exchange for a $10 donation.
“One of the cookie boxes (was) expired,” the woman said.
After Channel 9’s report in 2017, the director removed signs in Pageland that offered jobs to children as young as 13 years old.
The organization does not have any work permits on file for teens, according to state records.
Kristen Petras said her husband gave money to a child who showed up at their door last week.
“The whole thing felt a little uneasy for me,” Petras said.
The website for Carolina Youth Club says the organization, “provides fulfilling experiences for youth who may not have access to them otherwise."
Director Jule Huston said children are volunteering and not working.
"We are trying to do the right thing by rewarding the children by coming out here and volunteering," Huston said.
He said children are not at risk in the program.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
