Our Mission and History
Our Mission
The Boys & Girls Club of Lunenburg was created as a result of the need for a safe and constructive after-school program for Lunenburg youth. This concern about our youth arose after a survey taken in 1997 cited the need for a teen after-school program as a top priority for the community.
Our Club was organized under the auspices of the Boys & Girls Club of America, the country’s largest youth development organization and the fastest growing youth agency in the world. The Boys & Girls Club of Lunenburg is unique for the following reasons:
–We focus on kids and kids alone in a dedicated youth facility. Our kids learn and play in a facility that is dedicated to them. The club does not house other programs or groups.
-Professional staff. We take part in year-round training and professional development in five core areas: Social Recreation, Sports & Fitness, The Arts, Personal & Educational Development, and Health & Life Skills.
–Open Daily. The Club is open daily during the critical after-school hours from 2:30-6:30 pm.
–Affordable to all youth. The majority of our revenue comes from grants, pledge drives, fundraising events, and corporate sponsorships. The town of Lunenburg generously pays our utilities.
Our History
The Boys & Girls Club of Lunenburg opened in 2005 under the name of the Chester Mossman Teen Center. As a result of a grassroots community organization, this initiative recognized the need for a safe and constructive after-school program for Lunenburg youth. This concern about our youth arose after a survey taken in 1997 cited the need for a teen after-school program as a top priority for the community.
The building at 15 Memorial Drive was completed in July of 2005 with the generous support of local contractors, residents, and their in-kind donations for a cost of $190,000 which was well under market value. The house-like structure has many amenities including a full kitchen, four computers, a pool table, a ping pong table, foosball, and air hockey. There is also a conference room for meetings and tutoring. The Lunenburg Family Lions Club constructed a half basketball court a few years after the Center’s construction.
More than 100 residents have quietly donated their time and expertise to this project in ways invisible to all but a few. The dedicated, committed residents have led the effort to keep the Club open and responsive to the needs of Lunenburg adolescents. More recently, the primary use of the Club has changed focus to middle school students. The average daily attendance is approximately 85 youth Monday through Friday.