Boys & Girls Club to host Youth Summit on April 19
Candidates for the open seats on Waynesboro City Council and the Waynesboro School Board will take part in a Youth Summit on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m.
The Youth Summit will be held on the premises of the Waynesboro Boys & Girls Club location, 302 E. Main St., Waynesboro.
News Virginian editor Jonathan Hunley will serve as the moderator for the forum, which will pose questions on issues facing the Waynesboro youth community. Read more
The Grace Race
This 5K run/walk begins and ends on the campus grounds of Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church in Fishersville. The course is a combination of paved and dirt trails.
The Tot Trot is a 1-mile fun run for kids ages 8 and under that will take place in two loops combining paved and grass trials. Each child who participates in the FREE Tot trot will receive a finisher ribbon. Read more
Boys & Girls Club Calls for Youth Summit
The Boys & Girls Club of Waynesboro, Staunton, and Augusta County is calling on Waynesboro community leaders to participate in a Youth Summit to help focus attention on issues and opportunities for young people.
The summit will be held at the Waynesboro Club (302 E. Main Street) on Thursday, April 19 at 7 p.m. in conjunction with National Boys & Girls Club Week. Read more
Program teaches soccer to Club members
It was a cold January day, but it was also a Friday afternoon, and the youngsters at the Boys & Girls Club were getting restless.
Going outside on this wintry day wouldn’t mean basketball, as it usually does on the blacktop courts off East Main Street.
Waynesboro High School soccer players Eric Chandler and Matthew Burns were on hand to begin a new program aimed at teaching Club members the “beautiful game.”
“We’re here to expose the Boys & Girls Club to soccer, something that we grew up with, we love, to get them doing it, too. It’s a lot of fun,” said Burns, who coached one group of Club members, The Dominators, they called themselves, through a few drills before running a series of scrimmages. Read more
Boys & Girls Club marks successful Holiday Open House
The Boys & Girls Club of Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County raised more than $15,000 through its annual holiday raffle.
The Club marked the raffle on Saturday, Dec. 5, with a new twist – a Holiday Open House that invited members and their families to the Waynesboro Club location for arts and crafts, snacks and visits with Santa.
“We’re trying to reach out to the community and bring families into the Club,” Club Board member Emily Lucente said.
For Club President Tom Hardiman, involvement in the local Club is payback for positive experiences as a youth member.
The Boys & Girls Club “made a huge impact on my life,” Hardiman said, “and I know it’s making an impact on the young people in our community.”
“We like to say our slogan is, Great Futures Start Here. We’re looking for the community to help us help these youth in our community,” Hardiman said.
Online at www.AugustaBGClubVa.org.
Giving Thanks
What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving? That was the question we posed to several members of the Boys & Girls Club in Waynesboro this week.
“I’d have to say … well, my parents., because they’re very helpful. They care for me and all that … and my brother and my sister. They’re, like, there for me and stuff like that. I like how they’re always there for me. My mom and stepdad are always helping out with each other, making a team. We’re strong together. My family members, all together we’re strong,” said Tylik Mawyer, 12, a student at Kate Collins Middle School.
“I’m thankful for God because he’s the one that made all of us, and He’s the one that made this Boys & Girls Club. And I love the Boys & Girls Club,” said Rachel Obiro, 8, a student at Westwood Elementary School.
“I’m most thankful for my family … how my mom and dad love me, and how they take care of me and my little brother,” said Re’sun Stevenson, 9, a student at Wenonah Elementary.
“My family, and the people who give me the stuff for Thanksgiving. And my brothers. And my mom and my dad,” said Michaela Williams, 8, a student at Wenonah.
“I’m thankful for my family and my friends. And my three brothers and my sister,” said Shiona Hodgins, 9, also a student at Wenonah.
“Turkey! Turkey, stuffing and the rest of the food. Mostly my mom,” said Aalayah Hubbard, 8, a student at Berkeley Glenn Elementary.
More on the Club at www.AugustaBGClub.org.
Best Buy grant will aid Club Tech Center
A $10,000 grant from Best Buy will go toward the installation of a new Technology Center at the Boys & Girls Club in Waynesboro.
The grant, through Best Buy’s At 15 program, which is focused on community programs aimed at teens and adolescents, is the second in as many years to go to the Club from Best Buy, said Chris Ashby, the director of logistics at Best Buy in Staunton.
“We feel very, very fortunate that we’re able to work with the Boys & Girls Club again this year and provide them with funding,” Ashby said.
Joe Pittman headed up the review committee at the local Best Buy distribution center. He said the committee was focused this year on working with programs “that directly help the youth and try to tie the youth to technology.”
“Technology is a bigger part of children’s lives today. To have this program available for local area youth is hopefully going to have a big impact,” Pittman said.
Club Executive Director Ty McElroy said the money will go toward the purchase of new computers and related equipment for the Technology Center at the Club.
“Hopefully the products that we purchase will last several years into the future,” McElroy said.
More on the Boys & Girls Club at www.AugustaBGClub.org.
