Boys & Girls Club named chamber’s Member of the Month
The Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday during its monthly membership meeting announced Boys & Girls Club of Sequoyah County as its December Member of the Month.
The Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday during its monthly membership meeting announced Boys & Girls Club of Sequoyah County as its December Member of the Month.
The Boys & Girls Club of Sequoyah County traces its beginning to 1995. At that time, Linda Bickel was operating a program with Christian Children’s Fund to connect low income youth in the area with sponsors around the globe to provide tutoring to those youth. Bickel was approached by Boys & Girls Club of America because they admired the tutoring program she was managing, and the local chapter was born.
The Boys & Girls Club of Sequoyah County was chartered on Dec. 31, 1998, so 2023 marks its 25th year. The chapter has served thousands of youth ages 4 to 18 throughout the county during the past quarter century.
In 1999, the chapter established its first unit in the old Post Office downtown. The organization has since expected to six units, with five of the units housed in rural elementary schools across the county. There are clubs at Brushy, Moffett and Liberty, along with a standalone unit in Sallisaw and two new clubs in Roland and Vian.
The organization’s mission is to “enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” This mission is accomplished by providing a safe and fun place for youth to go after school that is both affordable and educational. The programs provided help youth with their school work, teach valuable life skills, STEM activities, Career Launch, diabetes prevention, anti-bullying and anti-drug activities, Fun & Fitness, arts & crafts, and a host of other programs that help youth be the best they can be.
The Boys & Girls Club of Sequoyah County receives funding from the federal and state governments, United Way and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which can only be used for grantstated purposes. Cherokee Nation, which is a Hugh supporter of the clubs, provides funding for cultural and other programs. The organization also uses money from donations, dues and fundraisers for other costs, and grants to help with special projects are actively sought.
