OKLAHOMA CITY –

It’s summer, and kids need something to do. It’s time to bring out the basketballs and lace up the shoes for some midnight basketball.

It’s year 28 of SOY(Saving Our Youth Summer) basketball, located at the corner of NE 27th and Kelley.

“We provide a safe environment for our youth in the community, to come out, play basketball,” said Priscilla Meadows-Norwood, organizer of SOY.

For kids like Devin, who has been coming to play basketball since the first grade, this program means everything.

“We don’t be on the streets or nothing like that, but my mamma raised some good hoopin boys, athletes, and we don’t be on the streets or none of that, it’s just that we have anything to do during the summer beside swimming or going out, and we’ll come out here every time,” said SOY participant Devin Godwin.

With music, free-food trucks, bounce houses, gaming trucks and more, it truly is a fun space for kids of all ages.

“I hope that the youth realize that there are people in their community that care,” said Meadows-Norwood.

Each night starts with prayer and guest speakers from the community pouring into the kids.

“it helps me be a leader, you know whenever I’m playing basketball in school or AAU,” said SOY participant Kaliel McNeely.

They have also added a youth mental health aspect with professionals equipped and on-site.

“We know that youth are experiencing a lot of different things in their lives and so we provide an avenue where if they need someone to talk to, we have people out here,” said Meadows-Norwood.

“It’s a great community for us kids to come play basketball and all of that,” said Godwin.

Anywhere from 200 to 250 kids show up for the fun that will happen every Friday except July Fourth weekend, starting at 7 p.m.

“There are people in the community that are vested in seeing our youth succeed,” said Meadows-Norwood.

“It just helps me become a better leader,” said McNeely.

There is no preregistration to participate, and anyone is welcome to come out. There is also a need for sponsorship and volunteers.

They can be reached by email @soyyouthokc@gmail.com or through their Facebook page @soyokc.