Boys & Girls Club receives two major grants

The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Ellis County recently received two separate grants from Maytag and Walgreens, totaling $41,835.32.

Director Teresa Evans said they nominated one of their volunteers and part-time staff, Jake Calvit, for this year’s Maytag Dependable Leader Award.

Calvit heard the club wanted to start a garden and walked into the club’s building, offering to help. Evans said the garden took off under Calvit’s leadership and guidance.

Calvit teaches the kids how to grow produce, trees, flowers and more. He also spends much of his own time taking care of the garden. Since first volunteering, Calvit has now joined their part-time staff and helps with daily activities.

According to Maytag’s website, the company has supported the Boys & Girls Clubs of America since 2003 through donations, scholarships, volunteers and donated Maytag appliances. The Maytag Dependable Leader Award honors Boys & Girls Club employees and volunteers who are dedicated to helping the younger generation. Individuals are nominated by their peers, and Maytag selects the winners after careful review of all nominations.

Calvit was selected as a top five finalist, and the club was gifted two Maytag refrigerators to store produce from the garden in the lobby, which is available for parents and families, and $16,000 to help purchase items needed for the garden, including tools, seeds, plants and more.

Evans said they have an irrigation need because there is no water on the backside of the building, where the garden is located. Calvit currently connects multiple hoses that run from the front of the building to the garden, sets out rainwater catching barrels and pushes a wagon full of water buckets around the building to get water to the garden.

“Our goal would be to put an irrigation system in the other side of the parking lot, so it’s more easily accessible for him and the kids,” Evans said.

The club received $25,835.32 from Walgreens Distribution Center in October.

Evans said each year the distribution center chooses a charity for their employees to make contributions to, and then Walgreens matches the donation amount. This year, the Boys & Girls Club was chosen.

Evans was taken aback by the amount donated to the club, she said.

“I had no idea it was going to be that much,” Evans said. “When they said the number, I was in shock and fixing to cry. It’s just amazing.”

Evans plans to use a big portion of the grant from Walgreens for transportation with some also going to educational needs.

“Transportation is always an issue,” Evans said. “We have a limited amount of time to pick them up from school, and we only have four vehicles to pick them up with. Our staff is running all over town. If we had another vehicle, we could expand our reach to more kids in the community.”

One of the club’s buses recently caught on fire because of an electrical fire under the hood, and it was totaled. This happened shortly after the club purchased and received a new minibus, thinking they were finally a step up on transportation. Following the fire, Evans said they are “back to square one.”

The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Ellis County acts as an afterschool childcare for children and youth ages 5-17 during the school year and a day camp during the summer. While at the club, the kids have a “power hour” homework time, participate in gym games, garden, complete a computer curriculum, attend weekly devotions on Wednesdays and more.

Evans said their goal is to help kids feel cared for while also helping them grow academically and giving them a place to have fun.

They are always looking for volunteers, Evans said, and they hardly say no to any type of donation whether its hand sanitizer, a pool table or something else.

To volunteer, donate or learn more, call 972-937-0509 or visit the club at 620 Farley St. Evans said the club’s entrance can be found at the back of the building near the yellow posts.

Originally published November 22, 2022 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/arts_and_entertainment/boys-girls-club-receives-two-major-grants/article_7c71367a-6ad0-11ed-b5b0-07107828bbe7.html