Help Boys and Girls Club help teens
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Editor,
In response to Kyrie Bitterman’s thoughtful letter about bringing resources together to serve teens, thankfully there are solutions to portions of the challenges facing teens. While teen centers in general have suffered a rather low record of survival, there is one organization that can provide the guidance and research to successfully manage teen activities and facilities.
As Kyrie is aware, these solutions don’t come without a cost. However, if the research and the development of programs has already been done and is ongoing, it reduces the risk of putting valuable resources to work without a record of success. Might I suggest that our communities come together and explore the support of an organization that has been in the United States for 103 years, Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Our local Boys and Girls Club units have been struggling to survive in economic times that make it difficult for many nonprofits to function. If we put our resources together for the great cause that Kyrie outlined, it would have a better chance of making a positive difference for teens and all kids ages 6-18.
With additional support for staffing and facilities, our club units could offer weekend services for teens. With unified efforts put forth in the towns in our valley, there would be additional support for the kids who need us most in the most critical times of day.
Please log on to BGCA.org and explore all the benefits that our communities could derive through community support.
Thank you Kyrie, the discussion is wide open. These young people don’t wait around; they grow up. Perhaps together we can help provide some guidance to build character that is a positive influence for society.
John Schnase
Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County
