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Boys & Girls Club gets $10k grant

-- Rima Runtzel, President

(Updated: Thursday, September 02, 2010, 12:00 AM)

Nickelodeon and Lowes helps Oakhurst club

Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst is one of 35 clubs nationwide to be awarded $5,000 from Nickelodeon's Big Green Help Grant program. Ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 each, Nickelodeon awarded grants to 123 out of 400 applicants who submitted a comprehensive plan for encouraging awareness in their area.

Launched earlier this year, the Big Help campaign continues Nickelodeon's legacy of addressing important social issues and empowering children through information and resources to help them become agents of change in their communities. The Big Help campaign aims to inspire a child-led movement for positive change and focuses on four key issues: the environment, education, health and wellness and community service.

Through these grants, Nickelodeon hopes to motivate two million children to become active in improving their community's sustainability. In addition to directly contributing to neighborhoods across America, the Big Help global campaign features on-air PSAs, a dedicated website and grassroots outreach through Nickelodeon's pro-social partners.

Jim and Maggie Elliott of Oakhurst provided the required matching dollars making the total funding for the Torch Club's Project Verde $10,000. The Elliotts were part of the team who founded the club in 1999 and Maggie is an emeritus board member.

The Oakhurst Club's Project Verde focuses on recycling, gardening and teaching healthy lifestyles. Expansion of its garden will allow for growth of fruits and vegetables to be used as healthy snacks and also sent home with needy club families.

Jim Elliott likens the club's garden to its members observing that, "just as you watch a garden grow from a seed as you nurture it, these kids are growing from the care we provide them."

"Our Torch Club leadership will be accountable for every facet of the maintenance, with available assistance from staff and volunteers in areas of education, mentoring and accountability. Student leaders will allocate daily responsibilities to other club members and volunteers; watering, weeding, composting, soil testing, harvesting and dividing ripe produce for snacks, and distribution to families," explains former staff member and grant author, Jessica Stanphill.

"We want our club members to discover they are capable of impacting others in immense ways, no matter how much or little they think they have to offer," Stanphill said.

The club has also been chosen as this year's Madera County partner for the Lowe's Heroes program.

On Sept. 11, Lowe's employees from Madera will volunteer their time to work with club staff and volunteers to make repairs and improvements to the club with $1,200 in Lowe's products and other donated materials.

"The heavily increased membership and attendance over the past several months has created a real need for this type of help. I am most looking forward to replacing the carpet in the three buildings, which has seen a lot of wear and tear this year," said Eric Solomon, club director.

Each year Lowe's Heroes volunteer program helps to improve the communities where Lowe's employees live. The company identifies a community improvement project that will make a difference in their community. While projects vary by location, Lowe's Heroes volunteers share a common goal to make their communities better places to live.

The work day will begin at 7 a.m. and continue until complete, hopefully by noon. Refreshments and lunch will be provided by the Boys & Girls Club board of directors.

"Lowe's employees from Madera will do the work, but we need help emptying the rooms in preparation and returning furniture and other items when the work is done," Solomon said. "We need a lot of help to make this work."

Release of liability forms are required to participate and can be found at BGCOakhurst.com.

To volunteer for this and other projects, contact Solomon at (559) 642-4600 or visit BGCOakhurst.com.