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By Claire Petersen
It’s been one year since the Wells Community Boys and Girls Club relocated to a new facility, but the club has changed more than just its location.
One change has been the addition of several new programs. “Too Good for Drugs and Violence,” for example, focuses on teaching goal setting, decision-making, conflict resolution, drug awareness and community involvement. This program was for children ages six to nine years old. Participants met once a week during the school year, and upon completion of the program, received a gift card.
“We give kids incentives to attend different programs, such as gift cards and t-shirts, to show them the rewards of commitment.” noted Program Director Ashley Chambers.
“From this program, I learned that it’s not all about getting a gift card, but about learning lessons about not doing drugs and not smoking,” club member Hailey Storie said.
Chambers said that that’s exactly the kind of lesson that certain programs and the Boys and Girls Club aim to teach. “If you can reach the young kids and educate them, they will realize the bad aspects,” Chambers said. “The kids learn the information, and then they talk. They talk to their friends and family, and hopefully that can help others make the change.”
There are several other programs that the club offers during the school year and throughout the summer. “NetSmartz” is a program that teaches Internet safety and awareness. “Triple Play” is another program, which focuses on improving overall health of club members by having them engage in daily physical activity and teaching them the benefits of good nutrition.
Another addition to the Boys and Girls Club is the Kids Café, which provides a free, hot meal to all club members. During the school year, dinner is provided and during the summer, breakfast and lunch is served. Executive Director Shaun Crispen said the club usually serves 70 meals a day.
Not only does the Boys and Girls Club provide all members a meal, but it also provides transportation for students going from Bluffton Harrison Elementary School to the club. Forty-two percent of the club members are BHES students, but the club serves members from more than 15 area schools. Currently, the Boys and Girls Club has more than 450 members, and 20 percent of those members attend regularly.
“Our goal is to continue to increase our numbers by getting more kids, but to also have a transportation system to get them home,” Crispen said.
As the club continues to evolve, Crispen encourages the community to come and see all the changes and to get involved. “There are a lot of good programs here. I’d really like for the public to understand why the club was made … We’re always looking for volunteers and we accept all kinds of donations,” Crispen said.
The Boys and Girls Club is always accepting new members. If a child is interested in becoming a member of the club, Crispen said they can visit one time for free. Membership only requires an application form and yearly dues of $10, which can be reduced or waived when needed.