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    Boys and Girls Club in Riverton has successful first semester after years of planning

    (Riverton, WY) – The Boys and Girls Club in Riverton has been up and running this last Fall semester after three and a half years of planning. 

    The newly opened club hired a director at the beginning of September and the club is supporting around 115 K-5 members in their afterschool activities with as many as 50 to 55 kids a day. 

    Jessica Baxter is the Vice President of Operations oversees the Riverton branch and says that she heard from organizations like R Recreation that there was a real need in the community for kids’ activities after school. 

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    “And delinquency actually increases if you can believe it between the hours of three and 6pm.  Because those are the hours that school is done.  But maybe parents haven’t really come home yet,” Baxter said. 

    The club is located at Rendezvous Elementary School and the club is set up to accept kids from other schools through a bus route and costs around 6 dollars a day for a child to attend and 10 dollars annually. 

    “But again, we’re a Department of Family Service child care provider so they can get DFS child care assistance, as they qualify,” VP Baxter said. 

    Baxter also said that there is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) monetary assistance that helps pay for students’ attendance to the Boys and Girls Club. As well as other funding opportunities through the Boys and Girls office. 

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    During a fundraiser earlier in the year, the Riverton community donated through big breakfast fundraisers and events, accumulating almost $100,000 to help get the Boys and Girls Club off the ground. 

    Club events include help with homework and tutoring but also a STEM focused Lego club as well as clubs based on science and reading. Baxter also said the club is planning on being open during the Christmas and summer breaks to keep kids occupied during time off from school. 

    “What we do have is fun and engaging programs that make them excited about and look forward to learning and homework and help them feel more competent in school,” Baxter said.

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