the Ole Miss cheerleaders visit the Boys and Girls Club in Oxford Wednesday.
Photo by Katie Williamson I The Daily Mississippian
As the holiday season approaches, many people take a moment to reflect on the things for which they are thankful and try to do their part to give back the community.
One organization that people are partaking in is the Boys & Girls Club of Oxford-Lafayette County, which is giving back to the community in a big way. Providing a weekday after-school program and summer camp, the Boys & Girls Club exists solely to serve the youth of the community.
“We are not a babysitting service,” said Zell Long, chief professional officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi. “We are a youth development organization, offering the opportunity for the youth in the community to have a safe place to go in the afternoon.”
In the late afternoon, particularly the hours of 3-6 p.m., many boys and girls are left by themselves while a parent or guardian is working. It is during this time many of these children and young adults are at the highest risk for making unsafe decisions.
The Boys & Girls Club is a national organization, which provides a safe space for children and adolescents to go to after school. It’s a place where they can be constructive, creative and cared for. Going to the Boys & Girls Club in the afternoon allows participants to gain confidence needed for life success as well as prepare them to take on future responsibilities.
“Most people think of a club as a quiet place, where there’s no talking and no fun,” Long said. “The Boys & Girls Club isn’t like that — it’s fun. Fun with a purpose.”
Arts and crafts, healthy lifestyles, education and career development programs are just some of the many things the Boys & Girls Club has to offer. Special programs, such as Passport to Manhood, SMART Girls and SMART Moves, focus on teaching participants vital developmental skills such as decision making, developing a healthy lifestyle, developing positive self image and growing leadership skills.
“We also have speakers who come and talk with the boys and girls,” Long said. “It’s all to enhance the program.”
The Boys & Girls Club also provides after-school recreational activities, academic assistance, holiday activities and computer assistance. Each activity is geared towards the strengthening of the individual, character development and building a strong support system for participants.
Currently, the Oxford Boys & Girls Club serves about 125 youths between the ages of 8-16 every weekday.
The Boys & Girls Club in Oxford held a pep rally Wednesday featuring the Ole Miss Rebel cheerleaders and band members.
“It’s really just in preparation for the game, to get the kids excited,” said Lamont Watkins, director of the Boys & Girls Club on Washington Avenue.
Watkins encourages any of the Ole Miss faculty, staff and students interested in volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club to come by and fill out an application.
“We hope to do a Thanksgiving meal in the future, but that’s still in the works,” Watkins said.
-McKenna Wierman
mckenna.wierman@yahoo.com
