The Pike County and Surrounding Counties Boys & Girls Club in Troy is making an important transition regarding the services it provides.

Under the leadership of Wayne Buchanan, chief professional officer, the Club has increased involvement with multiple entities within the City of Troy during the last six months.

Buchanan said partnerships are necessary in order to collaborate agencies and organizations with the program offered at the Boys & Girls Club.

“The Boys & Girls Club serves children kindergarten through high school,” Buchanan said. “Joining the Boys & Girls Club is a rather simple process. A parent or guardian must come by the Club and fill out a membership application. The only requirement is that the child must be enrolled in school.”

Buchanan said the programs offered this summer were well attended and very successful, due greatly to the partnerships the Club formed with city entities.

“This summer the Pike County and Surrounding Counties Boys & Girls Club partnered with the City of Troy to transport the Club members to the swimming pool at Washington Park,” he said. “The partnership also helped the Club get access to the pool. The Club also received assistance from the Troy Recreation Department.”

The Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center conducted health and life skill activities for kindergarten through third grade Club members.

“Army Aviation Credit Union provided a ‘Money Matters’ program for all age groups and the programs were age appropriate,’ Buchanan said. “The younger boys and girls learned how to be responsible with money and the teen group learned the importance of banks and about credit cards and loans.”

Sav-A-Life was another partner of the Boys and Girls Club of Troy and conducted a health and life skills program for the teenage group.

“Sara Jo Burks, Ms. Senior Pike County, gave her testimony to the boys and girls,” Buchanan said. “She told them about the challenges she has faced throughout her life. It was very inspirational to hear the stories of how she overcame adversity.”

During the year, Troy University provided volunteers for the Club’s after-school programs.

“These volunteers were a very dedicated group of college students,” Buchanan said. “They worked in many different areas. They volunteered as mentors; they listened to kids read and helped with their homework. The volunteers even got involved in their kickball games. They did a tremendous job and we are very happy to have them as a partners with the Boys & Girls Club.

”During the summer, the Troy City School District included the Club in the lunch food service program and that made is possible for us to serve lunch to the members.”

Buchanan said SUSO sponsored a “2 on 2” basketball tournament the Saturday before Father’s Day.

 

“The idea behind the basketball tournament was to get fathers and sons together in a game of basketball,” he said. “Some of the boys played with others male role models in their lives.”

 

The Boys & Girls Club has initiated a Youth of the Month program that recognizes a boy or girl who has participated consistently in the Club’s programs and has displayed a good attitude, good behavior and has kept his or her grades up.

 

Walgreen’s has partnered with the Club’s Youth of the Month program and presents a gift card to honored youth each month.

 

Buchanan said he provided only a snapshot the Pike County and Surrounding Counties Boys and Girls Club because the Club continues to develop partnerships and add programs that meet the growing and changing needs and interests of the Club members.

 

The Club had 70 members last year with an average daily attendance of 57. Registration for the 2014-2015 after-school programs at the Boys & Girls Club begins in August.

 

The Club is located at 1318 North 3 Notch Street in Troy.