A football camp in Poughkeepsie is teaching kids valuable lessons both
on and off the field.
When drills aren't happening, Roy Watterson, a life-long Poughkeepsie resident and local high school and Marist College
football standout, is trying to take campers under his wing to put them on the
right path. "Honestly, to show them love and respect. A lot of kids aren't
getting it when they're at home so I'm going to give it to them while they're
down here," says Watterson.
Watterson says these kids
need a safe place to go with so much gun violence plaguing the city. "What
we're trying to implement is father figures to these kids. You see a lot of
violence in the city of Poughkeepsie right now. And mainly,
I'm trying to stop that with my program I have here."
The camp is completely free
and, sometimes, Watterson even dips into his own pocket for things like cleats
and food. "Just imagine, some kids come in here with just slippers on.
They didn't have anything. Some kids look for breakfast before. 'Coach, is breakfast coming?'
We got you."
The camp staff is here
without a paycheck, doing what they can to make a difference in these young
lives too.