Boys & Girls Club expands reach, shapes futures

By Tony Logue,
Quill Contributing Writer

There is a common misconception about the Boys & Girls Club that Elisabeth Cawthon, the West Plains executive director, has heard too many times: that the organization is only for families who cannot afford anything else.

“We are here for every family in our community,” she said. “If you are working and you need a safe place for your child, we are here for you. We do whatever it takes to help all children build great futures.”

The club has served West Plains for 11 years, growing from a partnership with West Plains R-7 schools into an organization with 150 enrolled members at the local site and 60 more in Thayer. The school district, a partner from day one, is now selling the building to the Club outright.

Affordable care, summer meals

The cost of the program often surprises parents. During the school year, families in the top income bracket pay roughly 99 cents per day. For families earning less, it can drop to $50 for the entire school year.

The organization’s reach extends well beyond after school hours. In the summer, the club’s Meals in the Park program provides free lunches to any child from birth through age 17, with no paperwork or questions asked. Last summer, club officials shared, the program broke its daily record three times, serving upwards of 300 children lunch on its busiest days.

Cawthon has had a front-row seat to this community progress. She began her career with the organization nine years ago, working directly with teenagers, and has since worked her way up through every role in the building. She has watched that first class of teens graduate, marry, start businesses and eventually come back to volunteer.

“Somebody just taking the extra minute that a child needs can make all the difference in their life,” Cawthon noted.

Community Support

To continue providing these services, the club relies heavily on hands-on community support. Volunteers are consistently needed to help run programs. To ensure safety, the club runs four layers of background and reference checks, a process that takes about a week to complete.

For local businesses looking to support the organization financially, Missouri’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) Tax Credits return 70% of a donation to the club on state taxes. For example, a $1,000 donation yields $700 off a Missouri tax bill, which can be spread over five years.

To help fund daily programming, the club will host its annual Masked Singer event at 6 p.m. May 9 at Rubydoo’s Vintage Events, 9240 County Road 9190. The fundraiser features local talent performing in disguise, with audience votes determining the winner. Tickets are available at bgcwp.com.

Eleven years in, the Boys & Girls Club of West Plains continues showing up every afternoon for Howell County kids, ensuring that every child who walks through the doors knows they deserve to be seen.

For more information, visit bgcwp.com or follow @bgclubwp on Facebook.