Excited young people of Manitowoc County gathered in excitement as the doors officially opened at the Boys & Girls Club of Manitowoc County on Monday afternoon.
The club noted in a press release that among their plans is to provide supportive relationships with adults, a positive environment that offers new opportunities as well as a sense of belonging for area children.
“That’s what I hope here, is that we’ll be able to create an environment that provides hope, opportunity and allows them to build quality relationships with quality adults,” Executive Director Bill Bertsche said minutes before the club’s first children arrived.
After-school services are available to the area’s youngest residents, ages 6 to 12, with weekday hours of 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Extended hours are offered when Manitowoc Public School District schools are closed, expanding from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Kids aged 13 to 18 will also be participants, but Bertsche said that parents with interested teens should contact the club about activities planned specifically for that age group.
The Boys & Girls Club of Manitowoc County notes on their website that over half of students in Manitowoc Public Schools qualify for free or reduced lunch, with approximately 13% of county children living in poverty. Bertsche also said that Manitowoc was one of Wisconsin’s largest areas without the support of a Boys & Girls Club, despite the growing need for such a service. Annual fees aim to be manageable, with an annual charge of $15 per child. Families with three or more children will not be forced to exceed the maximum annual fee of $35.
The club plans to work with the MPSD bus system to provide after-school transportation to the club, but no timetable has been solidified.
The club can be found at 3651 Dewey St., sharing a building with the Manitowoc DMV. Parents interested in participating are advised to submit their interest online at BGCManitowocCounty.org, or they can simply visit the facility.
