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Campus Friendship Benches support anti-bullying efforts

Peoria Pioneer Lions’ effort growing

Posted 11/14/19

Friendship Benches are popping up around Peoria and Glendale schools, and hope is on the way for many more.

The Peoria Pioneer Lions are leading the anti-bullying program that provides and …

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Campus Friendship Benches support anti-bullying efforts

Peoria Pioneer Lions’ effort growing

Posted

Friendship Benches are popping up around Peoria and Glendale schools, and hope is on the way for many more.

The Peoria Pioneer Lions are leading the anti-bullying program that provides and installs the Friendship Benches on campuses around Peoria Unified School District and Deer Valley Unified School District. By the end of 2019, 19 benches will be installed this year.

“If there’s a problem the teacher goes over and sits with the child and finds that there’s an issue,” Peoria resident Joyce Mayer, a member of the Peoria Pioneer Lions, said. “We center around younger kids.”

According to StopBullying.gov, a federal government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice indicates that, nationwide, about 20 percent of students ages 12-18 experience bullying. Some 70 percent of young people say they have seen bullying in their schools.

“Arizona school districts are required to prescribe and enforce policies and procedures to prohibit pupils from harassing, intimidating, or bullying other pupils,” the website states.

The Peoria Pioneer Lions are raising money to cover the cost of each bench, which run about $1,000 apiece, says Ms. Mayer. The club throughout October installed them on campuses at the rate of two to three per week. She added that schools in Scottsdale, Tolleson and Avondale have also expressed interest in the program.

“If there’s a problem the teacher goes over and sits with the child and finds that there’s an issue,” Ms. Mayer explained.

Students are involved the day a new bench is dedicated and installed.

“We read a book to the kids about caring and sharing and friendship, and then after that we go outside and do the dedication and ribbon-cutting,” Ms. Mayer said. “We’re not just dumping the bench and never going back. We feel that this bullying situation is going on forever. So next year we go back to their school and do the whole program again with the first graders.”

For more information or to donate to the program, email azfinal@cox.net or call 623-583-3254, or check out the Peoria Pioneer Lions Club on Facebook.

Any students in need of immediate attention can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), which stands ready to help with 24-hour crisis counseling and mental health referrals.

Editor’s note: Steve Stockmar can be reached at sstockmar@newszap.com.