Boys & Girls Club just needs place, money, hard work


When Charles Dickens wrote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” he could have been talking about Henderson. Although crime seems to be an unabating issue and unemployment is still a monster, there are certainly positive movements in our community, and one is the Steering Committee for the Boys & Girls Club of North Central North Carolina.

This committee is moving to bring a chapter of the Boys & Girls Club of America to Henderson (hence the North Central North Carolina name); the steering committee convened in April and meets every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Gateway Community Center.

Having formulated an action plan, the committee is laying a foundation to establish “a positive place for kids.” Although Boys & Girls Clubs provide recreation and after-school involvement, they are much, much more. The clubs exist to help develop children into responsible, productive and well-adjusted adults. To do that, the clubs divide programming into five categories: Character and Leadership; Education and Career; Health and Life Skills; the Arts; and Sports, Fitness and Recreation. A Specialized Programs category exists to tailor the club to the community in which in operates.

At the meeting on Tuesday, the steering committee continued through its action plan by planning events that build a network of people interested in helping the children of the community. In the near future, securing a facility, incorporating the entity and raising an incredible amount of money are on the horizon.

Led by Elaine Chavis-Young, the group will continue to meet on Tuesdays at Gateway, except on the Tuesday after the fourth Sunday of the month, when the NAACP meets there. The meetings are open to the public, and any interested people who would like to be involved are welcome.

— Written by Todd Hester, steering committee member