Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias

Attention Farmersville Community: As of February 1st, our Farmersville Club will be open for in-person services! Club hours are Monday through Friday, from 3:00PM - 6:00PM. To register your child for a Club membership, please visit www.bgcsequoias.org/registration. There, you can click "Farmersville Club" and submit an application online. Memberships cost $15 per yearthis payment can be made on the aforementioned webpage. If you have any questions, please call (559) 594-19...77. You can also find our COVID-19 Club Safety Procedures list and video here: www.bgcsequoias.org/health-advisory-updates.

Oak Grove Club's 4th6th grade members practiced sketching, shading, blending, and color theory during their virtual art program. Not only was this a time for members to improve their art skills, but it was also a chance for them to relax, imagine, and express themselves. Club member Steven worded this best by saying, "When you are feeling sad and don't like where you are right now, with art you can make your own little world that's really happyand it's actually pretty relieving when you have your own little world on a paper."

Thank you for being a part of our Fall Ball Fundraiser in support of our Strathmore kids and teens! Because of generous community members like you, we raised $11,580 to support our youth. With your kind donation to our Club, we will be able to help our members with learning loss, emotional support and give them hope during these challenging times. We are so lucky to have your support and we could not do this without you. Thank you for being heroes to our Strathmore Club and our community! We would also like to thank our Strathmore Fall Ball Supporters: Central Valley Auto Transport, Union Bank, Gary & Cathy Herbst, Lane Engineers, Inc., Cliff & Maureen Loeffler, Martin Tire & Auto Service, Star & Yonok Warson, Gail Grasmick, Glen & Christine Catalina, Cellu-Con, Inc., Pratt Farm Management, Inc., Diane Della, and Stephen Tootle.

COVID-19 vaccines are supported by California’s top medical experts. Individuals with the highest risk of becoming infected and spreading COVID-19 will receive vaccines first. Later in 2021, most Californians will have an opportunity to get vaccinated. It’s time to #EndThePandemic in all of California’s 58 counties. Keep wearing your mask.

Club member Ethan wrote a thank you letter to his local firefighters and was met with an amazing response! Ethan explained what happened that day saying, "After I delivered my letter [to the station], I was doing my Zoom with Boys & Girls Club. Then my mom told me that she had to say something. [...] She said that the firefighters wanted to come to our house and deliver a letter back to us. We went outside and the firefighters came with their firetruck. They were flashin...g their lights and they gave the letter to us!" "It made me feel happy on the inside. I don't know how to explain it, but it felt like my heart just grew. Just knowing that they came to my house and gave me the letterit just feels good," Ethan added. Ethan wrote his letter as a part of Oak Grove's virtual Pen Pal Club. This was something he and his peers decided on together. They felt passionately that they should thank the Porterville Fire Department for all their hard work putting out the wildfires this past year. Receiving a direct response like this is tremendously inspiring and rewarding for our members. Thank you, Porterville Fire Department! Also, great job, Ethan!

In lieu of our annual MLK Jr. Day March, a few of our staff worked together to create this introspective video highlighting members & staff. They were asked a few questions such as "What does diversity mean to you?" and "Do you feel like you matter at the Boys & Girls Club?" Watch the video to hear what they had to say!

Lombardi Club's Ms. H. is determined to get her members physically active! She recently ran a Triple Play club which consisted of many fun exercise activities. Ms. H. led by example by going for a walk in her backyard while on Zoom and encouraged her members to do the same. As a result, members would do more than just walk, they would get on their trampolines, play with their dogs, ride their scooters, and more! Some other activities ranged from simple stretches to yoga worko...uts. The most popular activity was a game called "This or That". Members Analiah and Iliana explained this game during their showcase saying, "Ms. H. put up two items [on the screenfor example iPhones and Samsung phones]. If you like iPhones, you have to do push ups, or if you like Samsung you have to do sit-ups. So whatever we liked, we had to do that type of exercise." In the photo below, Ms. H. showed us some of their This or That options, such as Jamba Juice vs. Starbucks and Netflix vs. Youtube. Ms. H. created the game of "This or That" to engage her members. She said, "In general, I would say that it is difficult to get children physically active. I thought it would be cool to pick their brainsto get an idea of the things that they liketo then incorporate it into getting them physically active!"

Ms. Reyna's Art Club studied Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, and Yayoi Kusama! Members learned about each artist's distinct style and then used those styles as inspiration to create their own art pieces. For example, since Kahlo is well-known for her self portraits, members drew their own self portraits by looking at themselves on Zoom. Ms. Reyna & Ms. Angelica conveyed to their members that these artists had the determination to create no matter their situationsuch as ...Frida Kahlo, who was known to have drawn her feet while sick in bed. This was inspiring to the members as they also became determined to create regardless of their situation!

Just how much sugar is in a Pepsi? In this video, Visalia Gindick Club's Josh and Chloe demonstrate how many grams of sugar are in our favorite drinks. Josh led this activity as a part of his Healthy Habits program with the goal of helping members visualize the sugar content of common beverages. Members learned that sometimes our favorite snacks are not the healthiest snacks and that we should consider alternatives with less sugar.

Miss P. recently ran a virtual book club with her Lombardi members! Together, they read some children's classics and completed corresponding hands-on activities. During their showcase, Club member Kimo showed off her Pete the Cat puppet saying, "We glued and cut paper to make Pete the Cat puppets. I had a lot of fun with it and I also had some fun with my mom playing with it." Members loved getting crafty and interacting further with these stories through art and imagination.

Mr. T. from JMA came up with some very creative ways to keep his 4th-6th graders active! In his virtual Triple Play Club, he has turned exercises into fun activities, such as the "What's Your Name" game. In this activity, each letter is assigned an exercise. Members then "spell out" their full name with exercise. Club member Star said, "I liked the "What's Your Name" workouts because the "m" made me better at somersaults!" Mr. T. is fantastic at leading Triple Play. He is enthusiastic, energetic, and encouraging. He is great at keeping members motivated and creating positive associations with exercise. Great job, Mr. T!

Thank you to everyone who has donated to our Fall Ball Facebook Fundraiser so far! We were not able to hold our in-person event, but that did not stop you from showing your support for the Strathmore Club. Your investment will truly make an impact in the lives of Strathmore kids. Also, we would like to announce that we will be holding a Facebook Fall Ball Silent Auction from November 12th-14th. More details to come, we will keep you posted!... Boys and Girls Club of Strathmore

Happy New Year, BGCS Family! No one could have guessed how this last year was going to go, however the commitment and love our staff have shown to the youth of Tulare County have never wavered or been stronger. You have held steadfast despite unforeseen obstacles and challenges. As I reflect back on 2020, I am humbled and amazed by the grace, strength, and creativity of you all. I thank you for pushing beyond your comfort zones, whether it be through technology or learning an...d teaching a new skill. You all are truly heroes that not only survived, you thrived. Happy Holidays, Carri Chambers-Plett Director of Operations

Our Summit Charter Academy Mathew Virtual Club members told us all about their Pen Pals program during their last showcase! Members practiced their writing skills and sent letters to firefighters, hospital workers, and convalescent homes. They also wrote to people they knew personally, such as a teacher, their grandparents, and someone of their choice who they haven't seen during the pandemic. Club member Valeria said, "My favorite part of letter making was writing to... the elderly. It is hard for them to see their families and writing a letter to them can lift their spirits and show them that we care. Writing these letters was fun and inspiring." Great job, SCA Mathew members!

Please share the news! Our IVANHOE CLUB will be REOPENING on November 2nd! The Club will be open Monday-Friday from 2:30pm-6:00pm. To register your child, please visit bgcsequoias.org/registration. There are 20 spots available that will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Memberships cost only $15 per year. We ask that everyoneeven existing Club membersregister by completing our Membership Application, signing the COVID waiver, and signing our COVID Policies either online or by turning in an application in-person.

What do you think of Exeter Club's Exeter Scarecrow Contest display? Their tagline is "Ride the Pumpkin Express to Success!" You can help Exeter Club win by voting for them at exeterchamber.com/scarecrow-ballot. (Be sure to indicate that you are voting for scarecrow "#3, Ride the Pumpkin Express to Success.") Voting ends October 31st. Thank you to Betsy Peterson and Steve & Christie Caldwell for creating this amazing display with Exeter Boys & Girls Club kids!

Your support is changing the game for our kids! All of October, Buffalo Wild Wings is donating a portion of their sales to Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation! When you dine in, pick up, or order for delivery at Buffalo Wild Wings on Mooney, you’ll help us get more equipment, more coaching, and more sports teams for our All Star Club kids! Thank you, BWW!

Check out our auction items and place your bids! Text EXETER to 71760 to get started. By participating in our online auction, you are investing in the amazing & inspiring kids of Exeter! Need some help participating in the online auction? For step-by-step instructions, visit bgcsequoias.org/exeter. The online auction will be open from October 12th at 12:00PM to October 16th at 5:00PM. Also, there is still time to become a sponsor! Visit bgcsequoias.org/exeter to view all of our sponsorship opportunities. Thank you for believing in the Boys & Girls Club of Exeter!

Did you know that Boys & Girls Clubs of America started as a boys-only organization? 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of recognizing girls as Club members and officially becoming the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. When girls are supported during adolescence, research shows they can change the world! Our SMART Girls program helps girls build self-esteem, positive relationships with others and skills to live healthy. We will continue to do whatever it takes to give every girl eq...ual access to a great future! #DayoftheGirl #IDG2020 #GreatFuturesForHer (Photos were taken before COVID-19)

Our Exeter Online Auction fundraiser begins TOMORROW. Please share the news! Text the keyword "EXETER" to 71760 and follow the simple instructions to start bidding. The auction will start tomorrow (10/12) at 1PM and end this Friday (10/16) at 5PM. For more detailed instructions, visit www.bgcsequoias.org/exeter. Let's come together to support Exeter youth!

Did you know that when Boys & Girls Clubs of America started, we were only Boys Clubs? 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of officially recognizing girls as Club m...embers and becoming the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In honor of this milestone and International Day of the Girl, we’re elevating girls and continuing to do whatever it takes to give every girl equal access to a great future. Celebrate with us by taking action for girls who need us now: https://bit.ly/34ce7cw

The EXETER community has COME TOGETHER to bring personal supplies, food, and resources to FIRE EVACUEES! Read about what they have been up to below. Exeter Boys & Girls Club teamed up with the American Red Cross and became a designated donation pick-up location for evacuees. The Club networked with other organizations, such as the Exeter Chamber-of Commerce, Exeter Garden Club, & Exeter Lions Club, and they all helped spread the word. It wasn't long before donations starte...d coming in! Evacuees are now being directed by Red Cross to the Exeter Club for personal supplies and food. Together, they have helped over 100 peopleabout 25 familiesso far. Unfortunately, about half of these people have lost their homes. Exeter Club has received many in-kind donations from Exeter Lions Club, Western Milling/Kruse, GoCal of California (gocalpromos.com), Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Pollen Ranch, and individuals in the community. Exeter Club members have been a huge help as well. They receive the donations and categorize them, making the items easier to box up for the families. Laurena Gilbert, Exeter Club Unit Director, is proud to see her staffEmily Ballew, Haley Baker, & Sandra Fishburnand Club members join the effort. She said, "These families have shared their stories with us; it has been an emotional journey. Our members are amazed at how the community has come together to help strangers. They like to help knowing they are making a difference." "In this pandemic, I am amazed how others have come together in this crisis to help others in need. This project has brought perspective to our members how to give without receiving." -Emily Ballew "I am in awe that this community has come together to help so many that have been displaced due to the fires this community service project has been so rewarding to both our members and staff." -Haley Baker "Just knowing that we are helping so many people with personal items or even a listening ear has made all the difference in these people's lives. I am so proud to be a part of this." -Sandra Fishburn Laurena has always gone above and beyond for her community and this time is no different. She connected an evacuee family in need of a car repair to Frank Malmgrem, a local mechanic and Club parent, who donated his services to get their car up and running. Another evacuee was in need of new glasses as his had broken during the evacuation. Laurena went to Miller & Narahara, ODs, and explained the situation to the doctors. They were more than happy to help and they made him a new pair that day at no cost. Overall, there has been such an overwhelming response to this service project. As a community, we have been able to help several families and they continue to come in daily. To join this effort, give the Exeter Club a call at (559) 592-2711!

Thank you to all our panelists who took the time to participate in The College Night Webinar Series! Each panelist shared a bit about their profession and gave detailed first-hand advice and insight. Our panel gave lots of tips on applying for scholarships, transitioning to living on your own, managing a busy schedule, maintaining a high GPA, and applying for financial aid. Also, thank you to Cinthia Ibarra & Victoria Chung for coordinating this amazing event! Did you miss out on the webinar? No worries! You can access the full discussions on our YouTube channel or by visiting: bgcsequoias.org/collegenight