Boys And Girls Club of East Mississippi Prepares For Its Summer Program To Resume

In Meridian, as the pandemic has presented new challenges for the Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi, the organization has made some adjustments as it prepares to welcome kids back to its locations for activities this summer.

The Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi will be resuming its summer program on Monday, July 13, and has implemented new changes as they prepare for the kids return.

Now, when entering all Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi locations, it is required for everyone entering the building to have their temperature taken and documented, and if their temperature does not meet the requirements, they will be asked to leave. Masks are also required, and the organization will have extra masks for kids that need them. Additionally, social distancing will be practiced, as they follow the CDC’s recommended guidelines.

“Of course our numbers are a lot lower this year than they have been in the past, because of the social distancing, because of all of the things that are happening around, we’re doing a one to nine ratio, which is totally different than what we’ve done in the past, there are very few outside activities. So, we’re having to retool our program, change the way we’re thinking, change the way we’re operating, and we’re not different than anybody else when it comes to that,” said Ricky Hood, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi.

He also shares, that although these new measures have been implemented, the programs offered will remain the same.

“We’re still able to teach our classes and do the activities, whether its alcohol and drug prevention, and that kind of thing or money matters program, which is financial literacy—you name it, we’re still doing the same programs, it’s just the physical end of our program has changed a lot, and we’re still trying to figure that part out, because kids still need to be active,” said Hood.

The Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi still plans to hold its after school program in the fall, but has not yet announced the dates for when it will begin.