Winterville — Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain held fundraisers throughout eight clubs during the month of September. Fundraising events raised $1,000 for clubs in Greater Houston that suffered unprecedented rains from Tropical Storm Harvey.

“After hearing of the devastation that impacted the Houston area, our thoughts immediately went to the kids in that community. So many people reached out to our organization after Hurricane Matthew affected eastern North Carolina, we knew that we had to do something to support Houston. I am so proud of our club members and leaders for continuously helping those in need,” said Donyell Jones, chief operating officer for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain.

Fundraisers varied from an ice cream social at the New Bern Teen Center to a movie night at the Robersonville Unit. The Havelock Unit held a dance at their club while members at the Grady-White Boats/E.R. Lewis Family Unit sold baked goods to raise money.

“Board games were purchased with the money raised as that was one of their greatest needs. We sent Jenga, Sorry, Trouble, Uno, Monopoly and several other games to clubs in the greater Houston area. Several clubs in that region extended their hours to provide relief to families recovering from the flooding and could really use the board games,” Jones said.

All members at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain have a goal to complete at least one hour of club and community service per month. Members are taught that the club is a gift to them from the community, and they are expected to give back in some way. In 2016, club members completed more than 7,800 hours of service, which added approximately $184,000 in economic value. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain also promotes academic success through programs such as Money Matters and Power Hour; Healthy Lifestyles through programs like Passport to Manhood, SMART Moves and Street SMART; and good character and citizenship by offering programs such as Junior Staff and Keystone Club.

The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. There are 17 Clubs throughout Pitt, Beaufort, Lenoir, Martin, Greene, Carteret and Craven counties serving approximately 1,300 members daily. Club programs focus on academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles with an overarching goal of building strong children and communities. For more information, visit the clubs online at www.bgccp.com or call 252-355-2345.