Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club Starts New Year

The Positive Place for Kids and Teens where Great Futures start has begun 2016 right where 2015 had left off: Busy.

From Monday through Friday every day after school the Rooseveltown facility is hopping with kids interested in all sorts of pursuits. Daily there are over 100 children in attendance for after-school activities.

The kids who want to kick around a ball are in the big multipurpose room while those interested in technology are in the computer lab while aspiring artists are painting and drawing in the arts and crafts room. When weather permits children go outside to play on their brand new playground or for a game of basketball, soccer, street hockey and kickball.

The Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club not only offers opportunity for fun, but values knowledge and education as well. After the children arrive from school, they are given a chance to socialize, play and relax and enjoy a hot meal. Meals are provided a free of charge for all Club members!

Then it's time to get to work on the books and "Power Hour" is held every day where all the kids catch up on homework, receive instruction or get a chance to read. All of this happens before parents pick them up for the day. Daily after-school club hours are from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

Every Friday they host Teen Night starting at 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm where special teen oriented programs and recreational opportunities are offered. Additionally, as an added service they are open when schools are closed and offer "Staycations" to coincide with school breaks. This helps working parents by providing a safe place for their children during the day while they are at work.

Other specialized programs they offer includes mentoring which assists children with achieving their personal goals by matching them with an adult mentor. The Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club conducts criminal reference checks on all employees and volunteers which ensures the safety of the children they serve. Also they are a high school equivalency instruction and testing site for adults interested in obtaining their high school diplomas. This opportunity is offered weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 am to 1 pm and as well as testing four times throughout the year.

When school is out for the summer, their work is not yet complete. They kick off summer programs every July to offer recreational, educational and culturally relevant programs for children ages 6 to 11, as well as a specialized Teen Summer Program for ages 12 and up. For the past several years they have made these summer opportunities happen through a cooperative partnership with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe's JOM Program. Working together, these two youth serving organizations provide summer activities for over 200 community children annually!

At the end of the summer they hold their signature annual Golf tournament which is a major fundraiser for this very important community non-profit and it has a history of great success in raising funds for the Club. All of this happens before they gear up for a brand new school year. As you can see, this group of hard-working dedicated and caring youth development professionals works throughout the year to provide needed services to area families.

Volunteers are always welcome. The Club couldn't do what it does without the time and dedication of the many community volunteers who help them every day. They have volunteers from all walks of life including retired teachers, local professionals, business people, retirees, law enforcement and youth. The community has also been very generous in supporting their efforts and keeps the needs of children in mind. Most recently they received a large donation from a local business that provided the means for a special Christmas party for all of the children and teens. In addition the elders from the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe's Senior Center donated shoeboxes of special gifts for children in need. Most recently TMG has donated pizza from Papa John's for the children to enjoy once a month. If you are interested in helping out at this exceptional youth organization give them a call at 518 358-9911.