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New Beginnings At Vergennes Boys & Girls Club

photo by provided

photo by provided

photo by provided

photo by provided

photo by provided

Tuesday April 11, 2017

By Cookie Steponaitis

Opening the door of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes at 55 School Street is pleasing to the eye, ear and heart. The newly renovated space is bright and welcoming with new carpet, new kitchen and filled with the sounds of engaged young people. There is laughter in one area, concentration in another and a sea of coats, bags and boots that show anyone who comes in that this is a place for young people. Working under the five elements of creating a safe and positive environment, developing fun and as sense of belonging, providing supportive relationships (mentors), providing opportunities to grow and learn and providing recognition of growth and achievements, Executive Director Jill Strube and her staff are very excited about the direction the club is moving in. “We simply are so delighted with the renovations and the new space,” explained Strube. “The first day we opened it up one of our young people came in and her face lit up at seeing the new carpet, paint and areas. She dropped her book bag and proceeded to roll around on the carpet and couldn’t stop talking about how much she loved the look of her club.”
    Many readers would be surprised to know of the programming offered at the local Boys & Girls Club and how many young people benefit. The club provides breakfast and lunch on days of no school, lunch on half days of school and dinner on regular club days with the help of donations from the Vergennes Rotary, Congregational Church Food Shelf and others. Last month alone the club had over 400 meals. “It is more than just feeding the teens,” explained Executive Director Strube. “It is a family based approach. The students learn how to plan meals, shop, prepare foods, set tables and clean up and put away after the meal is complete. Sometimes the meal they cook in class is the meal for the next day. We work on manners, cooperation, life skills and learning while providing nutritional meals.”
    The staff meets monthly and develops a theme for the month. April’s theme is ‘New Beginnings’ and the club is featuring projects that include electronic arts, chair painting, kite making and Easter projects containing food and cards. Volunteers supplement the programming with activities that include sewing, different art projects and tutoring for homework time. Strube was happy to share that the programming is also expanding to include community service projects and grants that are helping securing programming based on STEAM (Science, Technology, Education, Arts and Mathematics). While it would take too long to identify all of the benefactors who helped create the renovated space, Strube wanted to thank the Board of Directors for raising funds, the Walter Cerf grant, Marcotte Appliances for the kitchen appliances, Countryside Paint and Carpet, Peter Welch, Howard Hall and others.
    If you have never stopped in please check out all the offerings at the Boys & Girls Club Monday-Friday from 2:30-6:30 at their 55 School Street location, on their Facebook page Boys& Girls Club of Greater Vergennes or at bgcvergennes.org. They are looking for volunteers and people with a little time or a skill to share with a growing population of students that averages around 23-28 a day. The space is delightful and bursting at the seams with activity and purpose. Also helping the students along with Jill Strube are Lisa Davis, Aimee Goff, Kate Coburn and Breanna Lapin. New beginnings are built on the premise that each child is special, unique and that it does indeed take a village to raise them to adulthood.

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