Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Missouri
Guest contributor Mackenzie Garst, Development Director for the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Missouri, describes the mission of the organization.
I remember the first time I met Ashley, a young Club kid with a constant glare on her face, never interested in talking to anyone. She struggled in school and wasn’t interested in opening up to anyone about her daily struggles to make friends.
Ashley was quick to pick on kids, would lash out at her staff and repeatedly found herself begging her way out of suspension. Her face told a tough story of poverty, abuse and neglect. She was the exact example of the kid that the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Missouri founded its mission on in 1957.
Currently, the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Missouri serves 250 children through our after school and summer program. Each day we open our doors to kids that would otherwise be home alone after school, providing them with trained homework tutors, a fully accessible computer lab, reading literacy room, recreation time, arts and crafts, sports and fitness. But most importantly, we provide our kids with a warm dinner they might not otherwise receive at home.
Of the 515 children who walked through our doors in 2013, 55% of them came from households who live at or below the poverty line. Even more staggering, 25% of those same families have a yearly income of less than $10,000.
We believe all children deserve a chance at succeeding in life; kids with similar stories as Ashley just looking for a positive role model in their lives. Our mission states “To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.”
Today, because of the stable, positive influence the Boys and Girls Club has on Ashley, she continues to transform her attitude towards others and herself. She is energetic, caring, helpful and loves helping serve the kids of the Club dinner each night. She sees the value not only in the opportunity she has been given, but she believes in herself now. Ashley dreams of being chef one day and the Boys and Girls Club will make sure she is provided every opportunity to make that dream come true.
If you are interested in enrolling your child in our excellent after school or summer programs, you can call (417) 623-8072 and ask for more information.
Mackenzie Garst
Development Director of Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Missouri
To learn more about the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Missouri and to see how you can get involved, click here.
Photos courtesy of Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Missouri.
Living Life to The Fullest!
I love seeking out new experiences and finding places off the beaten path. I started Joplin MO Life in August 2013 as a way to share my discoveries with others in the Joplin community so that they can learn about the resources that exist right in their own backyards.I have worked in education and event planning, and have always loved to write. I hold a master's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in marketing from Tulane University.
