Boys & Girls Club sets sights on buying new space, eager to reopen to kids – The Morgan Messenger

The Boys and Girls Club of East Panhandle plans to purchase part of Berkmore Place, a commercial complex opposite Widmyer Elementary, as the new location for its Morgan County club. building

Barbara Tucker, the chef of the Morgan County Boys and Girls Club, prepares meals on Friday for his family to receive meals on Monday.

There are Reed pharmacies, tri-state community health centers, dental offices and other companies. The club hopes to move there in early spring.

Since opening in 1996, the Boys and Girls Club is still located in the Morgan County Community Services Building on South Green Street. The community center is on sale and the club needs to leave the house as soon as possible.

Stacie Rohn, executive director of the East Panhandle Boys and Girls Club, said Ken Reed was willing to sell them part of the building they originally intended to rent for the club’s new location. Their $800,000 loan from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to purchase the portion of the Reed Pharmacy building has been approved and the funds are being used.

Ron said that renovations and relocations cannot be carried out until the loan documents are approved. They need to conduct a capital movement and repay loans early. The club will also have several tenants who have space in part of the building they are buying, so there will be some rental income.

The Morgan County Boys and Girls Club will be located in the physical therapy room of the former War Memorial Hospital in Reed Pharmacy. Ron said that the new club location will have a leisure area, a game room, a main educational space, a library, a commercial kitchen, a cafeteria and a space dedicated to teenagers.

Commercial kitchens are very important for their hot meals for club members and meals for Morgan County Schools after-school activities and summer activities.

The Boys and Girls Club received additional funding of US$35,000 for club renovations, installation of commercial kitchens, and assistance with moving expenses-Morgan County Commission provided US$25,000 and First Energy Foundation provided 10,000 USD. Ron said that they not only had to replace the kitchen, but also had to cover the door. An accordion wall will be installed so that the space can be enlarged or reduced when needed.

Rohn said that there is a decoration team, and once she has said something, she is ready to start work. She hopes to find some subsidies from the old worn-out areas to replace some furniture.

The Eastern Community Foundation of West Virginia in the United States provided sponsorship for the library and provided $4,000 for new books to the Boys and Girls Club.

Ron said she is looking forward to the renovation and relocation.

"That will be fun. For Morgan County, this will be a good new club." She said.

At the same time, the club has been significantly downsizing to maximize every inch of space in the coming quarters.

Ron said that once the last USDA document is completed, Ron said that they will end the building sales together with Reed and begin renovations.

She said: "Ken and Tully Reid have always been generous and supportive."

Before they looked at the Berkmore Place space, Reeds had donated land for the Boys and Girls Club to build a new club on site. At present, their first task is to relocate and stabilize the club in the new building.

The local boys and girls clubs have been downsizing and discarding unnecessary items in preparation for their move to the Reed Pharmacy across from Widmere Elementary School.

Once the Boys and Girls Club reopens, it will continue its same programming. Club activities include homework help, indoor games, outdoor sports, handicrafts, computer activities, cooking, drug and violence prevention programs, and community service clubs.

Due to the pandemic, about 65-75 club members participated before the club closed. On average, 65-100 children participate every day throughout the year. The Morgan County Boys and Girls Club provides after-school programs and summer camp programs.

The Boys and Girls Club continues to provide weekly meals for families with children on South Green Street (South Green Street). The director of the Morgan County Department, Sandy Mellott, said they provide about 115 Morgan County children with 1,000 meals a week.

People collect meals on Monday and call the club at 304-258-6741 on Friday to book meals for the following week. Melot said they provide five dinners and five snacks for every child under the age of 18. These children do not have to be members of boys and girls clubs.

Thanks to the new grant, the food service will continue until April. Mellot hopes that another grant will be postponed to continue the meal plan until the end of this year.

Melott said she will contact registered club members every week to understand their situation and understand their situation. If they are struggling, she will counsel them over the phone. Mellott has four club members and she tutors regularly every week. She also recommended the children to Morgan County Partnership Schools for counseling.

Melott said the club tried to provide online activities for its members, but the children were too busy doing things online, and the number of participants was insufficient. Melotlot has been serving food. She sent reading events for Martin Luther King Day and created "I have a dream" poem or art event. Children will receive little rewards for participating in the cupcakes and candy bar.

Mellot said that before moving, they had reduced a lot of things the club no longer needed. Some items were thrown into trash cans outside, and other items were given to families in need.

Melott said she couldn't wait to get the children back to the Boys and Girls Club.

"I must miss them. Great. It's great to be back there," she said.