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Tour of Homes contributes to inspiring youth at the Boys & Girls Club |
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Boys and Girls Clubs help kinds find their way
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| Arts and craft activities are always popular at the Boys and Girls Clubs. (Photo by Michele Crawford) |
By Jean Lomax and Lynn Brazen
Teenagers have fun participating in a variety of youth programs supported by the Big Canoe Chapel Women’s Guild annual Tour of Homes, but in some cases these programs can be life saving as well as inspirational.
One Boys and Girls Club member, currently a high school junior, tells the story of her brother who is now serving in the army. In high school the brother hung out with the wrong crowd, became part of the Juvenile Justice system and instead of spending his time at school, football games or parties, spent many days confined to rehab.
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| Learning to play the game is the first step in becoming a leader. (Photo by Michele Crawford) |
His sister introduced him to the Boys and Girls Club, where he became a volunteer Leader in Training. When the club started a teen employment program later in the year, this young man was the first selected to work for the Boys and Girls Club. His afternoons became filled with promise instead of trouble making. He graduated from high school and then enlisted in the army.
In sharp contrast, one of his former friends—from his earlier troubled days—died of a drug overdose. This unfortunate young man had been invited repeatedly to attend club programs, but chose not to become involved. Michele Crawford, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Georgia, said, “I feel confident that if we could have reached him, he would certainly be here with us today.”
In 2009, over 700 youth participated in the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Georgia, which operates four centers in Pickens County. Average daily attendance was 102, of which 54% participants received free or reduced-cost lunches. One third of attendees were aged 13-18 years.
The programs and activities offered at the clubs are as varied as the needs and interests of the young people they serve. Academic improvement and an appreciation for the environment and outdoor education are encouraged. The program SMART Moves helps young people make responsible decisions about avoiding drug, alcohol and tobacco use, while the Club Tech, Job Ready and Career Launch programs offer opportunities and training for 13-18 year olds to prepare to enter the workforce.
In September, the Chapel Women’s Guild used part of the funds raised at the 2009 Tour of Homes to enable the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Georgia to continue their highly successful Triple Play program through the 2009/2010 school year. Triple Play is a dynamic wellness program currently being offered in Boys and Girls Clubs demonstrating how eating right, keeping fit and forming positive relationships add up to a successful and healthy lifestyle.
Just as none of this would be possible without generous financial donations, including those received from the Tour of Homes, donations of time and energy are also essential to the day-to-day running of the programs. All clubs have adult and teen volunteers. The youth volunteers are called Leaders in Training and provide additional one-to-one mentoring experiences.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Georgia offer a great reminder that the Tour of Homes is so much more than pretty houses. Your support is making a real difference in the lives of young people. In fact, it’s simply inspiring!
(Michele Crawford, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Georgia, contributed to this article)
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