The Boys and Girls Club of Virginia Peninsula is planning to update the Gloucester unit facility located in the Hayes Shopping Center off Route 17.
The organization, whose mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need them most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens, has around 1,200 organizations across the country, with over 5,000 individual units, according to president and CEO Hal Smith.
At an Impact Soiree held at the Gloucester unit, he explained how important the organization is, empowering kids with well-rounded programs and opportunities.
“We really want to impact the time they’re here in the club so that they can learn what it means to be a leader—they can learn things that will take them into their professional career,” Smith said.
He said that the club was an affordable, accessible place for kids to spend their after-school hours while their parents are still at work, during hours where there is the greatest opportunity for kids to go down the wrong path.
“We’re not just babysitting kids, we’re providing tremendous opportunities for them to learn to grow and become the best versions of themselves,” he said.
Over the years, the Gloucester unit has served nearly 25,000 children from the time it opened in 2001 to now, said Smith. “That creates a lot of wear and tear on the facility,” he said.
The club is looking to make improvements to the facility’s flooring, lighting and bathrooms, as well as adding program support. The addition of carpet squares will help to soften how loud the large building can get, and exterior lighting will help on the nights when the shopping center lights are not on in the parking lot.
Currently the bathrooms are in the back of the building and with the addition of two single-stall bathrooms in the front, staff will have an easier time keeping up with the kids.
As the community of Gloucester continues to grow, especially with the removal of the toll booths on the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge, and more kids join the Boys and Girls Club, additional staff will need to be hired, Smith explained.
“For every 15 kids we have to add another staff member,” he said. “Not only do we need physical improvements, but we need to enhance the programs and add and meet the demand that’s going to come our way.”
The club has set a goal of $400,000 for the physical improvements and program expansion and have already raised $110,000 towards the updates. “This is an investment in the future,” said Smith.
Construction is estimated to begin in the first quarter of 2026 and will continue as funds are raised. “We’ll be able to start the first project, then go on to the next projects, and then finally have those resources necessary to increase the number of kids that we serve in this club,” he said.
The Impact Soiree, held on Nov. 12, served as a kickoff event for the club to find sponsors willing to donate. More events and opportunities will arise over the next few months to continue to raise money towards the goal.
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Written by CHEYENNE FENTON / GAZETTE-JOURNAL
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