BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER CHARLOTTE LAUNCHES FREE ONLINE CLUB EXPERIENCE TO SUPPORT MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY
DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
“Club Connect” Offers Helpful Videos, Resources and Daily Challenges
for At-Risk Youth in the Community
On March 16, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Charlotte made the difficult but prudent decision to close its facilities following Governor Roy Cooper’s executive order to close North Carolina schools. While students across the region adapt to an online learning environment, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Charlotte has developed its own online resource – called Club Connect – to help students be productive during this time and excel in the digital classroom.
“We know that at-risk students in our community are very susceptible to ‘brain drain’ when extensive time is spent outside the classroom such as during summer break,” said Marty Clary, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Charlotte. “These ‘Club Connect’ resources are designed to supplement what students are receiving from their schools and teachers. Just as we have done daily at our Club sites, we hope to keep kids engaged in activities that help them stay healthy, learn and grow.”
You can access The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Charlotte’s “Club Connect” by visiting BGCClubConnect.com. Features include STEM activities, daily challenges, easy home exercise tutorials, virtual field trips and more. New content will be added weekly. The site is free, and available to anyone in the community. You do not have to be a current member of the Boys & Girls Clubs to access the resources.
“Our top priority is ensuring the kids we serve are safe and have access to the support they need during this difficult,” added Clary. “Together, we know we can help our young people navigate this unprecedented crisis.”
About The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Charlotte
The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs was founded locally in 1935 on North Poplar Street. Today, eight clubs serve nearly 1,500 members in Mecklenburg and Union counties. Programs include academics, recreation, the arts, character and leadership, and health and life skills. The Clubs are located in diverse neighborhoods from Inlivian public housing sites to the nation’s only club in a homeless shelter. For more than 80 years, The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Charlotte have been serving at-risk youth in the community, creating a positive environment to help children excel in school and succeed in life. That long, storied history makes the Boys & Girls Clubs the longest-running and largest out-of-school time program in the Charlotte area.
The Clubs are located in high-risk neighborhoods, usually within close proximity of public housing developments. For only $5, school-aged children in Mecklenburg and Union counties can join the Boys & Girls Clubs, which provide a safe, positive, and fun place to spend time when they are out-of-school. The cost of membership is offset by contributions from the community.
The Boys & Girls Clubs is a division of The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte. For more information, visit BGCCharlotte.org.