By Stephanie Lindstrom | Development Coordinator
One of the five main programs the Boys & Girls Clubs offer to our youth is Character and Leadership Development, teaching them about thinking and doing for others. During Giving Tuesday, BGCP youth dedicated the day to giving back. Seven Portland-area Boys & Girls Club sites organized a day of service to show their appreciation for the year-long support of their local communities.
The Inukai Family Club in Hillsboro delivered 200 stuffed animals to the Hillsboro Fire Department and the Forest Grove Police Department to give to families and youth during times of crisis.
The firefighters asked youth to help decorate a tree to put the stuffed animals under so that the community could see them as they walked through the station. One of the youth that helped had recently been affected by tragedy and said to Club Director Rachel Parker, “I’m so happy I could help kids like me.”
At the Forest Grove Police Department, Chief Schutz was so excited about the donation. She gave youth a tour of the department and showed the kids all the aspects of being a police officer. She ended the tour by bringing them to her office and gifting each child with service metals that she had collected throughout her career.
“On the drive back the kids said to me, ‘This is the best thing I’ve ever done!,’ and ‘I want to be police officer so that I can always help my community,’ and ‘I want to be an engineer when I grow up.'” said Parker.
“I am so happy that our kids got this opportunity to give back, and for our community to feel cherished by their youth,” she added.
The Wattles Club in SE Lents delivered stuffed animals to a Portland firehouse to give to families and youth during times of crisis and give thank you cards to emergency responders.
Station Captain Jason Kelly says the toys will be placed on Truck 11 and handed out to children as they are needed. Each stuffed animal had a personal note from each club member attached. The youth got to tour the firehouse, check out the firetruck, and ask questions to local firefighters.
Regence Club in New Columbia, Blazers Club in the King neighborhood, Meyer Memorial Club in Sellwood, Margaret Scott Elementary School, Parkrose Schools raked leaves for their neighbors and delivered gifts to friends of the Clubs like PGE and more!
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