BEAUMONT - By Megan Dillard - Many teenagers face peer pressure and deal with the stresses of going to school.
Add to that violence and crime in some parts of southeast Texas and it seems some kids don't stand a chance.
One group in Beaumont is opening its doors to let young people escape to a place where the group says they can feel safe and have fun.
"They feed us and they let us play basketball and have a good time."
These young men say they know exactly where they'll be every Monday night.
"It's something to do to keep us out of trouble and keep us off the streets."
Basketball night at Lighthouse Worship Center has become a weekly highlight for this group of regulars and anyone who wants to come shoot some hoops.
"That's all we're aiming for, is for them to have fun."
Youth pastor Donny Lovelady kicked off the weekly game night nearly a year ago.
He says he wouldn't trade these guys for anything.
"This is a rough community. Our goal is to let them know they have a safe place to play basketball."
Organizers say the idea behind basketball night is to keep kids off the streets and on the courts where they can spend time in a safe, fun environment.
"We come, they feed us, they give us our prayer, then we leave. Everything is peaceful."
18-year-old Quintel Craig says he's not sure where he'd go if he didn't have this safe haven.
"I love to play basketball. I'm here with all my friends and everybody in the neighborhood. We don't have anywhere to go. The parks are slippery and stuff, and it's better to be on the court."
Better to be on the court than in a place where they face danger.
"There's a lot of stuff going on nowadays and trouble is easy to get in and hard to get out of. That's the easiest way I can put it."
"There was a couple times we were talking about shutting down and we'd have one kid come up and say hey, don't shut it down, this is all I have."
A place where these teens say they can play ball, eat a hot meal, and get encouraged. The ultimate goal?
"We're here just for these guys, because these guys need it."
Donny Lovelady, the youth pastor at Lighthouse Worship Center, says all the meals are provided through donations.
He says anyone is welcome to come play basketball.
The group meets every Monday from 6 to 9 in the evening.
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