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It's just an old house -- one that the average home buyer would look upon with skepticism. But for hundreds of kids on Chicago's suburban North Shore, it is a place to go, a place to be. . . somebody. It's called Gates House, named after the family who owned it 20 years ago. But the name means much more to the kids who go there. "It's like a battery," as one youth puts it. "You go there to be recharged." "It's a temporary sanctuary. You can get away from society for a little while; then you can go back, able to deal with society." "It's a good place to rap -- any way you want it." Gates House and the community's need for it met face-to-face in mid-1969. The First Congregational Church of Wilmette, Illinois, had purchased the property from the Gates family in 1953. It had ,been used for Sunday school classes, youth group meetings, and other church activities, but much of the time it had lain fallow. Making Gates House a going concern for kids was the brainchild of several church members who recognized that a need existed on the North Shore and that the House would be an ideal place to meet it. The church agreed to fund initial efforts, and since that time, numerous civic organizations and individuals have given personal and monetary support to ensure the continued existance of Gates House and its programs. Gates House reacts to the needs of young people -- needs that many times can't be met at home or elsewhere in the community. Open and staffed seven days a week, the House is there for anything from a lively volleyball or ping-pong game to a stimulating chess match. Or maybe just to sit and think, or to talk things out with a friend. Staff members are always there to join in the fun or offer encouragement and guidance. "The programs, the people, the relationships that are developed, and the decisions made at the House help the young people to develop tools to move about in life," says Larry Morkert, director of Gates House. "The programs and services of the House change and expand with the needs of the young people in the community."