Every child deserves a chance at a great future, and the Florence Rotary Club presented a community mini grant to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area to do just that.

The grant will support the Young Explorers Program at the Florence Club. In its second summer, the 8-week program transports 35 homeless youth, the majority of whom live in hotels and shelters, to receive Club services. According to F1S, more than 400 students have been identified as homeless in the Florence area.

The Young Explorers Program includes daily academic enrichment; weekly ELA, Math & STEM activities; character development; life skills programming; enriching field studies and of course FUN. Youth receive breakfast and lunch at the Club, and, through a partnership with Help4Kids, they will take home meals. But most importantly, they have a safe and nurturing environment, with caring adults during the day, and a chance to just be a “kid.”

“This population of kids are often unseen, left out, and forgotten, but they are part of our community’s future, and every child deserves a chance for a great future,” says Neal L. Zimmerman Jr., executive director of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area.

In total, the Florence Rotary Club distributed $20,000 in community grants to 15 community organizations during the June 24 meeting at Victor’s Steak Wine & Seafood in downtown Florence.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area has been serving Florence for 60 years – inspiring and enabling young people from throughout the Pee Dee Area, especially those who need us most, to become productive, responsible, and caring citizens. Our Clubs in Florence, Hartsville, Hemingway, Lake City, Pamplico, and Timmonsville provide programs and services that promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence.

Info: www.BGCPDA.org