The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg has been a great part of our community since they opened their doors in December 2005. They recently celebrated their 10th year of Clubgiving for their members and their family and friends. They have two locations: the Madison Street Clubhouse and the Dearington Clubhouse. Together, they have an average of 160 members at a time. Due to the amount of people who typically attend this annual event, The Club would have needed to split their Thanksgiving festivities into two separate events in order to keep the event at the Club. The Academy Center of the Arts, however, provides a venue large enough to host one large Clubgiving dinner. And so it happened that Clubgiving took place at the Academy for the second consecutive year.
Club staff prepared ten turkeys, eight hams, mashed potatoes, homemade macaroni and cheese, green beans, rolls, and desserts for more than 300 people in attendance. For seven years, members of the Calvary Baptist Church and of the Junior ROTC at E.C. Glass have graciously volunteered to help serve food at Clubgiving. Many children served by the Club do not have the opportunity to eat a traditional Thanksgiving meal because they come from lower income homes or broken families. Clubgiving at the Academy provides the opportunity for Club members to give thanks for each other.
The Junior ROTC at E.C. Glass High School kicked off the event with the flag ceremony. Candidates for the Youth of the Year Award took the stage to speak about the many great experiences and opportunities that come with being a member of the Club. The U.S. Attorney General for Western Virginia District talked about the Club’s involvement with the Lynchburg Police Department (LPD), including the program Badges for Baseball. The large capital campaign donors were recognized for their generosity, and the Club officially kicked off the capital campaign for a new gymnasium. Additionally, a group of female Club members performed a dance number before the Clubgiving feast. They get to sit down with family and friends to have a good, hot meal.
The Academy is grateful to be a part of such a significant community event. The Boys & Girls Club provides diverse programs to give their members great opportunities to learn and succeed. The Club emphasizes the importance of learning, creativity, and community involvement.
