Why We Love the Boys and Girls Club

By: Donna Edquist

Founded in 1946 with a mission, "To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens." The Boys and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County serve over 11,000 kids through their sports and outreach programs. Many of us know of the Boys and Girls Club for their successful, positive sports programs which are administrated through their 5 clubs in Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Lummi Island and Lynden. But there are many more reasons to love the Boys and Girls Club. Here are just a few.

Did you know that the Bellingham Boys and Girls Club serve 19,000 full meals a year to local kids?  "Kids are hungry, they want to eat and they need to eat," says Rhonda, the program director at the club.  These meals are served daily in the late afternoon and are included in the $30.00 annual membership fee.  During the summer months, the club also serves free lunches to any youngster under the age of 18 who shows up at noon.

Besides providing meals for your youth, another very popular program is the Technology Center and the computer room. The number one goal of the Technology Center "is to bridge the 'digital divide' – the gap that exists between those that have access to technology and those that do not." The Boys & Girls Club is seen as the "great equalizer" in computer education. Many kids do not have a computer in their homes, and have limited access in school.  At the Technology Center - kids have supervised access and instruction for 2-5 hours up to five days per week. They also have access to a homework room where they can receive tutoring help. For more information about what the Bellingham Boys and Girls Clubs are doing in this area go to: www.whatcomclubs.org/main.asp?id=56#daf.

The Bellingham club is located next to Roosevelt Park and is a short walk from the many apartment complexes that are nearby.  They also have afterschool transportation from six local schools with two additional school buses stopping there as part of their routes.  The club is busy every day, with attendance peaking in the summer.  "Kids vote with their feet.  If they are here we know we are doing our job," adds Lynn Templeton, Executive Director.  Currently, the club's membership is over 5,000 kids.

Donna Edquist is President and owner of Applied Digital Imaging. She and her husband, Steve founded the business in 1987. Donna has been involved with the club for over 15 years.

"I started out coaching T-ball for my son and soon was serving on the auction committee and the Bellingham Advisory Board. It was so exciting to be part of the organization when it moved to its new location on Kentucky Street ten years ago. I have served on almost every committee and sponsored every event. The club is so important to this community and to the kids, especially the ones who have nowhere to go and nothing to do after school and during the summer months. The kids feel safe there; they have fun, and are learning new things all the time".