Introduced by club member Washington Police and Fire Services Chief Stacy Drakeford, Donyell Jones, executive vice president of Boys & Girls Club of the Coastal Plain, provided an update which included his own history as a child.

The story of his early years, age 5–13, in Raleigh, and the ways in which his local Boys & Girls Club was so instrumental in helping him work through the disadvantages he faced, provided a fascinating insight into that organization’s impact on the children and communities served by Boys & Girls Clubs.

He later began a career with Boys & Girls Club and has been with them for 17 years. Jones thanked Washington (noon) Rotary for its continued support and promised future updates on the club’s activities.

Boys & Girls Club of the Coastal Plain is located at 621 W. Firetower Road, Winterville. The nonprofit organization operates facilities in Washington and Belhaven. More information can be found at www.bgccp.com; Jones can be reached at djones@bgccp.com or 252-355-2345.

Washington (noon) Rotary consists of volunteers within the city of Washington dedicating their efforts to charitable causes both locally and those to which its parent organization subscribes.

Each year, this group has raised and disbursed funds to local nonprofits through creative fundraising activities. More information can be found at washingtonnoonrotary.org or on Facebook (WashingtonNoonRotary).