The Elizabethton community has once again rallied to the support of the Boys and Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County raising over $67,000 this week at the Second Annual Steak ‘n’ Burger fundraiser. This year’s event raised more than $40,000 over last year’s inaugural fundraiser.
Proceeds raised from the event provide funding for different initiatives, including homework assistance, meals, a place for kids to hang out and develop character-building traits, and other vital resources offered by the organization.
This summer, the Boys and Girls Club served 366 kids, averaging 172 kids a day. Now that school has started, many of these same children will go straight from school to the Boys and Girls Club in the afternoon where they will participate in wholesome activities. It is a safe haven for them between the time the school bell rings ending studies for the day and when parents pick them up after their workday has ended.
The summer program just ended is only one example of how the local Boys and Girls Club serves its young charges with challenging, dynamic programs that enrich their lives. The agency’s dedication toward helping children live up to their potential is a true credit to this community.
Tuesday’s fundraiser is also a healthy sign that the community understands the challenges facing our youth and are focused on providing a healthy and secure environment for families to raise children in Elizabethton and Carter County.
It’s hard to oversell the value of investing in our young people.
There’s not a parent out there — no matter how good or bad a job they do — who wouldn’t like to see their child succeed at some aspect of life.
Many parents invest vast amounts of whatever time and resources they have in helping their children build a foundation for successful adult life.
That’s why we care whether our schools are good or not. That’s why we value parks and recreation programs.
The Boys and Girls Club is just one more important cog in that wheel. The present day program didn’t happen overnight. It has taken several years to get the program to the place it is and to find a permanent home for the program. We recall the days when the STAR’s own Joe Bowling worked as the part-time director at the Boys and Girls Club, when it was then located in the old Lynn Avenue School. Before that Frank Shepard directed the program.
The Boys and Girls Club has proven itself to be an indispensable part of our community. It’s a place where youngsters can go to do homework, to burn off some energy, to learn to cooperate in a team environment and to learn responsibility.
Preparing today’s kids to be good citizens and be competitive in tomorrow’s workforce is a task of the utmost importance to the local Boys and Girls Club and its staff. They are to be commended for the job they do and the community is to be congratulated for supporting the club.
When you support our Boys and Girls Club, you are helping shape our community leaders of the future. The entire community has rallied around the Boys and Girls Club because they sense its value to the community and they understand the incredible need it serves.