An open house for the re-located Boys and Girls Club of Sequoyah County will be held Friday.
A ribbon cutting will be held at 11:30 a.m., followed by tours of the recently remodeled building and refreshments.
Noreen Reininger, the club’s CEO, said, “This is a come-and-go open house. People can stop by any time and someone will give them a tour.”
Through an agreement with Sallisaw Schools, the Boys and Girls Club moved from its former location on Elm Street to 208 S. Main in the old middle school media center.
The club has a total of six rooms in the new buildings - three large and three small. The remodel of the rooms was funded by the money and hard work of community members. Bryan Warner, Cherokee Nation District 6 Tribal Councilman, sponsored the remodel of one of the larger rooms, KXMX, The Mix 105.1 sponsored the remodel of another of the larger rooms, and National Bank sponsored the remodel of the third large room.
The three smaller rooms were sponsored by the Employees of Redbird Smith Health Center, Sonic Drive In and Firstar Bank. The cost to remodel the larger rooms was between $1,000 and $2,000. The cost of the smaller rooms was about $500.
The larger rooms are now two game rooms and a computer room. The smaller rooms are for different age groups for Power Hour tutoring, the Smart Moves character leadership program and an arts and science lab.
Sponsorship does not mean just money. There is sweat equity involved too as the sponsors did much of the remodel themselves. The volunteers and staff at the Boys and Girls Club have been painting the walls and stripping and refinishing the floors in the new buildings.
Reininger said, “We’ve had hundreds of volunteers help with the remodel.”
In addition, Albert Sanchez painted the mural in five of the six rooms, one can be seen above, and the girls at the club painted the mural in the arts and science lab.
But more is needed. Even though room sponsorships were filled fast there are still many needs and many ways for the public to help. To accomplish that goal the club is keeping a wish list. The wish list includes two red couches; one 32-inch television; a DVD player; new computers; bean bag lounge chairs; video games for a Wii and Xbox; Wii and Xbox game systems; white rock for a planned garden behind the building; a security system; pool tables recovered; a Boys and Girls Club sign; and sponsorship for outdoor sports, which includes new rims for the basketball goal.
To offer aid contact the club a 918-775-4659.
The open house is being held this week in conjunction with National Boys and Girls Club Week, March 7 through 11.
Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director
For more news stories stay tuned to The MIX 105.1 or visit www.kxmx.com
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