WEST VALLEY CITY — The kids who live at Decker Lake are seen by some as the worst of the worst. They are the tough kids, with tough problems, who wound their way here through a series of escalating mistakes and scrapes with the law.
Thelma Patton sees them more like grandchildren.
Each Wednesday afternoon for the past seven years, she's been bringing the Decker Lake boys bags of yarn and teaching them to crochet.
"I was really scared the first time," said Patton, a petite 87-year-old. "But I figured somebody had to be in charge."
So with hook in hand, Patton took charge and has since taught legions of young men to chain and slip stitch blankets and beanies. Most of them are donated to children's hospitals or other charity efforts. Many have snagged blue ribbons at the state fair.
"We make something out of everything they turn out," said Joan Wright, 73, who saw a television news report about Patton and her crochet boys four years ago and volunteered to help.
Patton and Wright are just two in a corps of adult volunteers working with kids in Youth Corrections. Lisa Schauerhamer, volunteer coordinator for Salt Lake, Tooele and Summit counties, says the volunteer participation is invaluable to both the division and the youths.
"They can't believe that someone who does not even know them cares enough to take the time with them," she said. "It's so important in building bridges and making a better future."
Schauerhamer puts volunteers through a thorough screening program but isn't picky about what talents a volunteer brings to share. Over the years they've had music lessons, pottery and sewing classes. Some volunteers serve as educational tutors or mentors, and there are some who just bring cakes or gifts for the kids on their birthdays.
Time and consistency are more important than talent, Schauerhamer said.
"Like these two women who come in every week, rain or shine, and drag those bags (of yarn) in. . . . (The boys) notice that," she said. "They will even say, 'I could have robbed their house and they're coming in to spend time with us criminals.' "
Still, they aren't always thrilled with the idea of learning pottery or crochet.
"I thought it was more of an old lady thing," one boy said.
Once they get past the first few stitches, though, most of them like it, Wright said.
"Now it's something cool to do," said an 18-year-old, spreading an almost-finished blue afghan across his lap. It's a Christmas present for his grandmother.
"Used to be I would start something and not finish it. I didn't have nobody to tell me to keep going," the boy said, deftly moving his hook as he speaks. "Now it's like, when I start working on something, I don't want to stop."
Every stitch seems a metaphor for the efforts the teen is trying to make at Decker Lake.
Crotchet, he says, is teaching him about patience. Each finished project does something for his self-esteem, and there is pride in his eyes as he shows off his work.
"That's not something I had a lot of before," he adds.
Patton couldn't be happier. She and Wright both said they wonder sometimes if they are making a difference.
"I could have gone to the hospitals, I could have gone to the Red Cross, but I came here," Patton said. "Young people, if you can help them out of a bad spot, well, then you're really helping them change their lives."
Anyone interested in becoming a Youth Corrections volunteer can call Schauerhamer at 284-0251.
E-MAIL: jdobner@desnews.com