Club gives youths a place to go, learn, thrive

The Boys and Girls Club’s goal is “to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens,” according to its mission statement. Club members know that someone cares and will not let them fail.

The club is in the former St. Xavier’s School building and has seven full-time staff and 14 part-time staff. Some 300 volunteers, many from area colleges, help out throughout the year.

There are rooms for working on homework, a computer lab, a crafts room, and a room to practice dance or piano. There’s a science room where Dr. Phil Thayer, a retired professor from Whitworth College, works on projects with kids. There are also game rooms and rooms reserved specifically for the teen program.

In 2004, the local club served 1,645 members and 750 nonmembers. Children from age 6 to 18 pay $10 a year to become members.

On average, 150 children per day spend time at the club, and last year they served 22,845 meals. Bishop said that they anticipate even more children will be provided for this year.

According to the club’s membership profile, 46 percent live in single-parent homes; 65 percent qualify for free or reduced lunches; and 80 percent do not belong to any other youth groups.

Nationally, Boys and Girls Clubs have served almost 4 million youths since the original club opened in Hartford, Conn., in 1860.

According to research done by Louis Harris and Associates, 80 percent of the club’s members said that the staff helped them learn right from wrong; 95 percent indicated the club was the best thing in their community; and 52 percent said that participating in the club “saved my life.”