Behind the scenes of Lancaster City's Bench Mark Program

Going behind the scenes of Lancaster City's Bench Mark Program Advertisement Updated: 7:23 PM EST Nov 11, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Sarah Metts Reporter Going behind the scenes of Lancaster City's Bench Mark Program Updated: 7:23 PM EST Nov 11, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Sarah Metts Reporter LANCASTER, Pa. — After the final school bell rings, some Lancaster city students head to South Prince Street, where a gym offers more than a place to exercise. The Bench Mark Program, founded by Will Kiefer in 2014 to serve underserved youth, combines fitness with academic support, career counseling and mentorship. Advertisement "We work directly with our students to create positive gym spaces where they feel safe, understood, and empowered," said Kiefer. "We offer a support network that students can rely on for the rest of their lives." Its flagship program, 'Open Gym' draws about 60 to 70 young people on a typical night, said Justice McNeil, the organization’s intervention program director. “It’s a drop-in program; you don’t need a referral,” McNeil said. Open Gym manager Zoe Bluestone said students ages 13 to 24 can attend for free. She said the doors are open from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday. Mentors help students with workouts, schoolwork and career goals. The students can also earn “Bench bucks” for completing workouts or finishing homework assignments. McNeil says students take the “Bench bucks” incentive very seriously because they can trade them for snacks, protein shakes or save them for larger items, such as a pair of Crocs or clothes. “I think that also plays into them coming back and wanting to come back,” McNeil said. The building has a lounge, showers, washers and dryers. Hot meals are available Monday through Thursday, and students can get free haircuts during Open Gym on Thursdays. McNeil said a student leader in barber school also cuts students’ hair and learns by shadowing. “It is for the students and by the students,” McNeil said. Some young people come for a place to spend time with friends rather than to work out, Bluestone said. “We have so many students that don’t even come to work out,” she said. “They just want a place to, like, chill, and be with their friends or be with us.” Finding community through Open Gym Yaniel Santiago, a member of Bench Mark’s fight team, said he has been involved with the program for about six years. He started coming to Bench Mark for the Open Gym program before working his way up to the boxing team. Bench Mark is a registered USA Boxing club. Bluestone said the program provides gloves, gear and coaching. Santiago said the gym gave him a break from problems at home or school. “It was a way to escape reality in a sense, because you get to the gym and you get around all these people and you forget about your home situation or some problems you have in school and stuff,” he said. Javian, 12, said watching the fighters inspires him to work harder during Open Gym. “They’re pretty good, pretty inspiring to me because that makes me, like, push harder to try to get to their level,” he said. Santiago said his time at Bench Mark has had a lasting effect. “I think it just really changed me as a person,” he said. More to offer Aside from Open Gym, Bench Mark offers student leadership, strength-based skill building, pre-disposition, suspension alternative, and school-based branch site programs. You can also refer a student to a program. Although Bench Mark mainly serves Lancaster City kids, McNeil says it depends on the situation. "For most of our programs, we have a 10–15-mile radius, but we will serve students that might be a little further just depending on the context of their situation," she said. Celebrating 100 years of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Take the quiz and look back in photos Make WGAL a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks JoBe Cerny, who voiced the Pillsbury Doughboy, has died Lessie Benningfield Randle, the last known Tulsa Race Massacre survivor, turns 112 They longed to hold their fragile NICU babies. A new device made it possible 106-year-old WWII veteran reflects on his service and provides life advice