Club is integral part of community

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Granite Falls Mayor Lyle Romack described our city as “small and community-oriented.” This is sincerely the truth and the Granite Falls Boys and Girls Club unquestionably verifies this fact. Approximately 3,000 citizens reside in Granite Falls and 430 of them are children who are members of the Boys and Girls Club. During the summer, an average of 30-50 children enter the club daily, and 80-100 walk through the club’s doors every day during the school year. The club is a vital aspect of their lives.

However, it is not only the children who will be affected by the eviction of the Boys and Girls Club. The 430 children represent hundreds of parents who may have to reschedule work hours in order to take care of their children before and after school, thereby possibly placing their jobs in jeopardy. The club employs devoted staff members and recruits numerous volunteers, including students from Granite Falls High School and the middle school, to help supervise. Around 20 businesses in our community support and sponsor the club.

This is the true definition of a community. These are children, parents, workers, students and businesses all combining efforts to improve the quality of life in Granite Falls.

If Romack wishes to maintain a “community-oriented” city, it would be wise for him not to overlook such a large portion of our population by evicting the Boys and Girls Club. In essence, the eviction would result in a deterioration of our town as well as many values that the people of Granite Falls hold dear to their hearts.

Bill Bowers

Granite Falls