Save our Students initiative coming to Apopka

A grass-roots initiative to keep at-risk teens safe and away from mischief is coming to Apopka this Saturday night.

A key recommendation of the Orange County Citizens Safety Task Force, the Save Our Students Initiative is a series of weekend-evening events that will provide at-risk youth with safe, structured activities throughout the summer.

In addition to providing local kids with worthwhile entertainment, the community organizers spearheading the initiative hope to foster long-term mentoring relationships between the children and the volunteers. This initiative aims to reduce youth crime in Apopka and across Orange County.

Coordinated and hosted by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, the first session within Apopka – which is the second overall session of the year – will start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, at the Apopka Boys & Girls Club, 455 W. 13th Street in Apopka.

Throughout the summer, more than 40 Save Our Students events will be held at ten separate Boys & Girls Clubs in Orange County. They are located in the communities of Apopka, Bithlo, Carver Shores, Eatonville, Goldenrod, Parramore, Pine Hills, and Winter Garden.

Last year, more than 1,350 children took part in Save Our Students events.

Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings reconvened the Orange County Citizens Safety Task Force in response to the recent gun violence taking place. The task force was first convened in 2020 to engage faith-based leaders and community-based organizations met to brainstorm solutions and strategies to reduce and prevent gun violence and violent crime.

The goal of reconvening the task force is to re-examine the 2021 task force recommendations, make modifications as needed, and ensure the recommendations continue to meet the community's public safety needs. The task force will discuss modifying the current report and the funding recommendations.