Benita Stennis is grateful her children have had the opportunity to stay involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City.
Stennis' eldest child, Keith, who is in seventh grade, has attended the Boys & Girls Club since second grade. Her daughter, Kendall, in fifth grade, started with the club when she was in kindergarten.
"Their time at the club allows me to balance work meetings in the evening while knowing that my children are in a safe and productive environment," Stennis said.
As a single mom, Stennis was unable to be at home with her children after school when they were too young to stay by themselves. As Keith and Kendall have gotten older, they have continued to be members of the Boys & Girls Club.
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Questions may be directed to Ann Bax, president of United Way of Central Missouri, at 636-4100 or ann.bax@unitedwayce….Programs like Passport to Manhood, STEAM, SmartGirls and Career-Readiness days have contributed her children's ability to be involved in the community and develop leadership skills, while also improving their self-esteem, Stennis said.
"As a family, we are busy with after-school activities as well as extra-curricular activities," she said. "When we're not busy doing that, they enjoy the camaraderie and interaction with the Boys & Girls Club tutors and staff."
Stennis especially loves the Passport to Manhood program - which helps young boys transition from youth to young adulthood with the help of male community leaders - and Smart Girls program - which assists young girls in navigating the challenges of adolescence while helping them to build self-confidence.
"I am very grateful for these two programs in particular, because they incorporate subject matter that helps the children transition from early elementary to middle school material that is relevant," she said. "Now that Keith is becoming a teenager, his involvement in the program will help him to continue to mature."
For Stennis, staying involved in her children's growth is equally important. When she has free time in the evenings, she attends roundtable discussions for parents that provide tips and suggestions on how to help your children cope with the transition from pre-teen to teenage years.
"Through their involvement, both Kendall and Keith have matured," Stennis said. "Their involvement has taught them to respect authority, their friends and the importance of being involved in the community."
Other Boys & Girls Club programs include Power Hour, which provides help with homework and tutoring services; Garden N Grow, a partnership with Master Gardeners and Hy-Vee to introduce members to community gardening; and STEAM, which introduces concepts of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. The club also hosts Cub Scout Pack 72.
Over the years, Stennis said, the family has participated in Serve Jeff City and a parks and recreation beautification program, volunteered at the Samaritan Center and rang bells for the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign.
Throughout their time at Boys & Girls Club, Keith and Kendall have made a lasting impression on their peers and their mentors.
Shauna Blanche, director of marketing and volunteer management at the club, noted the two are very well-mannered.
"Overall, they are great kids," Blanche said.