Boys & Girls Club of Durant held a hot dog picnic on Saturday at Keithley Park to raise awareness about the organization and its future plans.
The club also provided information to the public about the three programs they intend to offer when the club becomes operational. No timetable is set, but the board plans on hiring an executive director by this fall.
Board President Kari Walker said the club is still in the fundraising stage, with matching grants from Choctaw Nation and the Massey Foundation. But Saturday’s event was about “education,” she said.
“Today is about educating, so people know what the club is and what we will offer,” Walker said. “Being new, people don’t know what a Boys & Girls Club can offer to children and their education.”
The club will serve all youths aged six to 18, with plans to offer after school and summer programs, possibly at Durant Intermediate School. Specific services to be offered are the “Triple Play,” “Project Learn” and “Family PLUS.”
Triple Play is a nutrition, exercise and healthy choices program in collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Health. Project Learn is aimed at “enhancing academic success” of club members. Family PLUS stands for “Parents Leading, Uniting, and Serving” and is designed to help families participate in their child’s life.
“It’s good for the kids to give them something to look forward to in the community,” said Thomas Williams, who brought his five-year-old son Aidan and his nieces to the picnic. “It gets kids out of the house.”
More information about Boys & Girls Club of Durant is available online at www.begreatdurant.com. The club will be hosting a benefit golf tournament on June 2 at Silverado Golf Course.
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