PARKERSBURG — The Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg (BGCP) recently announced the introduction of services in Athens County, Ohio, and the expansion of services within Wood County, West Virginia. The organization, now in its 60th year of service to the Parkersburg community, will open two new sites this fall.
In Ohio, BGCP will begin providing after school programming in Glouster. The Club will be housed in the former Trimble Township Community Center, 1 Cross St., Glouster. The center is a program of Hocking Athens Perry Community Action (HAPCAP) and will provide services to students at Trimble Local Schools.
The organization received $100,000 from House Bill 2’s Strategic Community Investment Fund for the Athens County center.
“I’m very excited to have the Boys & Girls Club coming to Glouster and Trimble Township,” said Athens County Commissioner and HAPCAP Board Member Chris Chmiel. “The Club will provide a safe place for kids to come after school or during breaks to learn, have fun, and be in a supportive and healthy environment. I believe this Club will have a long-term positive impact on many children, their families, and our community.”
In Wood County, BGCP will begin providing after school programming at Mineral Wells Elementary School. Members of the Mineral Wells site will have full access to the Mary Street Clubhouse during school breaks, summer and other out-of-school times when the school site will be closed.
Members at both locations will be provided with high-quality programming providing growth opportunities in academic success, character and leadership and healthy lifestyles. Programs will be implemented by caring Youth Development Professionals and will be supported by both site-level leadership and organizational leadership. Members in elementary school are charged an annual membership fee of $20 — and members in middle or high school have no charge.
“Watching this Club grow over the last three and a half years has been one of my greatest accomplishments in life, the number of youths served daily has tripled since 2021 and now we are going to serve even more kids.” said Lynn Reins, Chief Executive Officer. “I, myself, was a kid that needed a club growing up, and now get to spend my life being the adult I needed. I love Clubs and its mission to build great futures. Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg has grown our team to be a leading youth development agency throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley and this is just the beginning — there are so many kids that need to be served.”
Justin Clark, COO, has spent the last decade of his career dedicating his skills to the Boys & Girls Club movement and he believes this expansion will have a positive impact on both the Mineral Wells and Athens communities.
“I wholeheartedly believe that BGCP has the capacity, potential and responsibility to do whatever it takes to recognize generational impact in the MOV and across our region,” he said. “The growth of the organization to include the Mineral Wells and Glouster communities is the next step in our goal of ensuring equitable access to as many youth as possible.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of America has taken notice of the efforts of the local organization, with Katie Lee (Director of Organizational Development for the Midwest Region) stating “we’re incredibly excited for the Parkersburg Club to expand into Athens County and Mineral Wells. Lynn Reins and her team are already having a tremendous impact on youth in Wood County. As the Parkersburg Club expands, they’ll have the opportunity to empower even more young people to be safe and supported to learn and lead throughout their childhood and beyond. Every kid deserves a Boys & Girls Club, so kudos to the Parkersburg Club for broadening their reach and impacting more lives.”
Individuals interested in learning more about the expansion sites including registration and employment opportunities should contact Clark via email at justinclark@bgcparkersburg.org or visit www.bgcparkersburg.org
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