BENSALEM, Pa. - Bucks County families are happy to see a revival of sorts for Neshaminy Mall as a new youth center opens inside.Once a vibrant places to shop, many malls have become deserted, as retail moved out and online shopping took hold."It’s a little bit of a haven.
A safe place for kids to come out, to feel safe, socialize and get positive mentoring from good people in the community," Tim Morton, Kamp for Kids Founder, said.Morton and his wife, Penni, run the Bucks County non-profit Kamp for Kids.
They’ve previously used space in Neshaminy Mall to collect and distribute for Toys for Tots. They’ve been given free mall space for a youth center, open Fridays and weekends, for kids and teens 6th to 12th grades."For my son, the bonding experience and because he has autism, doesn’t mean he’s not human," parent Jamial Owens, stated. "They are sponges.
They are kids and we had a great time bonding with other children."Owens is a family coordinator for autism research at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.