ELKHART COUNTY – The cost to families is minimal, but the impact is great. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County has kicked off its annual holiday fundraising campaign.
Add images (Source: Unsplash)
The goal is to raise $350,000 by the end of the year. That money helps fund life-changing programs at Clubhouses in Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury and Nappanee.
Families can purchase a membership to the Clubs for just $30 per year, but it costs more than $1,000 to provide the activities so many kids rely upon each day.
“We have served more than 2,800 members so far in 2021,” said President and CEO Kevin Deary. “We know the need is great for a safe and positive place for young people to go after school and we take pride in offering programs that truly change lives.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs have been working hard since the pandemic to provide academic support for students to help close the education gap caused by online learning. The KidsCare programs have teamed up with Goshen Community Schools to provide tutors to assist learning and get students on grade level through a state-funded program.
Teen programs like Keystone Club and Torch Club focus on leadership development opportunities with a focus on career preparation and community service.
After a year without intermural sports competition, sports leagues at the Clubs are more popular than ever. Michiana Youth Sports League offers teens the opportunity to play flag football, futsal soccer, basketball and volleyball. Members also have access to social skills programming that helps them become better citizens.
Those programs include “Too Good For Drugs” and “RAKtivists (Random Acts of Kindness)”. They’re designed to teach members goal setting, healthy relationships and responsibility by focusing on building character and self-esteem.
Clubs also provide members with healthy food after school. The Clubs have served more than 80,000 snacks and meals this year.
Anyone wishing to support the fundraising campaign can make a donation online at www.greatfutures.club or mail a donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County, P.O. Box 614, Goshen, IN 46527.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County began operations in 1956, and today the Clubs provide programming and services for the most at-risk boys and girls within the community. Each day, the Clubs provide powerful relationships with the youth they serve and open avenues of opportunity for young people across their community by offering safe places where young people can learn, grow and succeed.
