TEETH!

Small Smiles teaching our kids about the importance of proper dental hygiene.

2009 Salvation Army Pop-Warner Season

Over 125 Boys & Girls Club members played on our six football teams this year.

The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club would like to take this time to thank our local Sutherlands store for donating over $700 worth of lumber at the beginning of the summer to construct a temporary wall/partition in our gym. This wall allows us to break up the square footage of our facility in a way that lets us serve our members more efficiently during the summer. We found this wall to be a blessing as it partitioned off one end of our gym as an extra program area. These wall units were put together in such a way that they can be taken down and stored for next summer. Meanwhile, we will continue to use two or three of the unit for various functions and special events during the year.

Thank you Sutherlands!

A few of our kids in front of our "wall."

Camp Hoblitzelle 2009!

Twenty three of our local Club members spent a week at Camp Hoblitzelle, a Salvation Army summer camp in Midlothian Texas. The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Beaumont takes a group of 20+ members every summer as a longstanding tradition. The cost of Camp is covered by the Salvation Army of Beaumont. While at camp, club members enjoy numerous activities including, sports, horseback riding, swimming, praise and worship, fishing, canoeing, arts and crafts and bible study.

Our Campers ready to check in and start having fun!

Jumping in the pool!

Horseback riding!

Walking from the cabin to the pool.

Outdoor LaserTag!

Ahmad caught a fish!

Getting ready for softball.

Touring Cyclists Visit Beaumont Boys & Girls Club

The "Road Warriors" cycling team visited the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Beaumont on its BGC "goodwill" tour of Texas. Led by Boys and Girls Clubs of Falls County board member, Buck Rogers, the Road Warriors are touring Texas Clubs to raise money for their local Boys & Girls Club. They stopped by to speak to our Club members about leadership, role models, decision making and good character.

Petals Floral Shop Sponsors Third Vocational Skills Initiative Project

Petals Florist Shop sponsored the third Vocational Skills Initiative project of the summer at the The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club this afternoon. Flowers and project supplies were donated by Renee Hubbell and her shop "Petals Florist" here in Beaumont. Local community volunteer and floral expert, Carol Gary, taught club members some of the basics of flower arranging. Each club member had the opportunity to assemble their own floral arrangement that they took home at the end of the day.

Rene Hubbell, owner of "Petals Florist"

Carol Gary gives instructions.

Boys & Girls Club Teens Visit Lamar Institute of Technology

Sixteen Boys & Girls Club teens, involved in our Jr. Staff volunteer program this summer, visited Lamar Institute of Technology as part of our Vocational Skills initiative. Club teens enjoyed a tour of the LIT campus, received an overview of the career opportunities at the disposal of LIT graduates and took three assessment surveys in order to explore careers best suited to their interests and values. Special thanks to Dr. Vivian Jefferson, Yolanda Avery, Frances Bruce, Trevor Powell and Lyn Brown.

ABC Sponsors Second Vocational Skills Initiative Project

The Associated Builders & Contractors of Southeast Texas sponsored the second Vocational Skills Initiative project of the summer at the The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club this morning. Kimberly Bernard, ABC Director of Education, and Teresa Hammonds, ABC School-To-Work Coordinator along with ABC President John Bernard instructed Boys & Girls Club youth in assembling "Marshmallow Shooters." This activity gave Club members the chance to gain experience working with PVC Pipe, a building material used in a wide variety of vocational fields. After each small group of club members completed their project, they tested their work out on the Boys & Girls Club football field.

http://www.kbmt12.com/news/local/50469167.html

ABC Director of Education, Kimberly Bernard, speaks to club members.

ABC School-To-Work Coordinator, Teresa Hammonds, gives some pointers.

ABC President, John Bernard, lends a hand to a young club member.

The finished product.

Testing out the fruits of their labor.

McFaddin Ward House & Food Bank Team Up To Serve Boys & Girls Club Members

In a superlative example of community collaboration amongst local non-profits, the Food Bank of Southeast Texas and the McFaddin Ward House are joining efforts this summer to work with the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club in teaching nutrition, horticulture and local heritage. Club members are enjoying educational tours through the McFaddin Ward House Victory Garden and the McFaddin-Ward House’s first floor. Club members finish their tour by enjoying homemade vegetable topped pizza! For more information visit the McFaddin Ward House Blogspot - http://mcfaddinwardhouse.blogspot.com/2009/07/pizza-straight-from-garden-almost.html

Danny Chand, Nutrition Education Specialist for the Southeast Texas Food Bank talks about Sunflowers.

McFaddin-Ward House's Carol Cuccio shares some insight about gardening.

Club members learn the process of "composting."

Club member enjoys some homemade "Vegetable" pizza.

Boys & Girls Club Kicks Off Vocational Skills Initiative

The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club kicked off its summer Vocational Skills Initiative with the first in a series of three projects aimed at encouraging Club members to cultivate hands-on skills. The first project was sponsored by local business, Collision & Classics. Company President, Gerald Condon and Operations Manager, Brian Ellis led the kids through a step by step process of sanding and spray painting a small car that each child was able to take home at the end of the day. Wearing face masks and protective eye glasses, our members had a blast learning the fundamentals of auto body repair work.

Brian and Gerald give instructions.

Gerald Condon with a young protege.

Club Advisory Council member, Paul Koester, gives some pointers.

Salvation Army Holds Annual Vacation Bible School

One of the highlights of summer for Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club members each year is our annual Vacation Bible School. This year's theme was "God's Universe." Club members along with other youth from the community explored this year's theme through, crafts, science experiments, bible lessons and recreational games as well as plenty of fun and of course plenty of VBS songs!

The Boys & Girls Club And Local Food Bank Team Up To Teach Healthy Habits

The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Beaumont has partnered with the Food Bank of Southeast Texas to facilitate "Healthy Habits" classes to Boys & Girls Club members. The Food Bank's Nutrition Educators visit the Boys & Girls Club once a week to teach important concepts that will help our members lead healthy lifestyles when it comes to food and fitness. "Every week, I review the material from previous weeks," says Nutrition Educator Daniel Chand. "The kids really seem to be retaining quite a bit of the material we are covering."

The Food Bank's Childhood Initiatives Program Coordinator, Grace Mathis, speaking to our 6-8 year olds.

The Food Bank's Nutrition Educator, Daniel Chand, gives some hands on instructions.

Making Vegetable Art!

Vegetables make us smile!