SOAKING UP THE SUN • A Send- Off To Summer
Boys & Girls Clubs Draws Hundreds To Celebration
By DEREK BLYER
Daily News-Record 8/10/18
HARRISONBURG — Sunshine matched smiling faces Thursday at Lucy F. Simms Center for Continuing Education, as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County held a celebration, marking the end of its summer programs.
Thursday’s event brought together 250 children from sites in Timberville, Harrisonburg, Elkton and Grottoes for the festivities.
“We’ve had eight weeks of organized chaos,” said Lori Kizner, executive director of the organization, which is headquartered at the Simms Center.
The organization serves children 4 to 18 years old during the school year, as well as over the summer.
“Our summer program gives a lot of kids a safe place to be, where otherwise they might be home alone watching one another,” said Douglas Driver, president of the board of directors.
Caesar Dominguez, 11, of Elkton, was one of the children whose summer might have been uneventful without the program.
“I don’t know where I would be, probably watching television,” Caesar said. “We do a lot of fun trips, and I love it here.”
The annual summer programs last from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
The nonprofit organization, officials said, sees results from its efforts.
“The best thing you can invest in is people,” board member Ed Chappell said. “A little bit of investing can make a huge difference in a child’s life.”
Although the summer programming is ending, staff won’t have much downtime. The new school year for Harrisonburg and Rockingham County public schools starts Aug. 21.
“We need a week in there,” Driver said, “just to get our act together.”
Idara Inoa (left), 8, and Laura Ashkeba, 11, both of Harrisonburg, race through an inflatable obstacle course Thursday during the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County celebration at the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center.
Layla Conill, 6, of Timberville, looks into the cafeteria as her group gets ready to eat lunch during Thursday’s summer celebration held by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.