Community Partners work together to provide service to youth in Fallbrook

FALLBROOK – Boys & Girls Clubs of North County in partnership with Community HousingWorks and The BetterWorld Trust opened a new club site at Turnagain Apartments Monday, Aug. 12.

Members of Community HousingWorks approached the club to discuss a potential partnership to serve the youth at the apartment complex. Community HousingWorks has been operating two after-school programs in Fallbrook including the one at Turnagain Apartments and their goal this year was to partner with an organization that would help them to increase their service hours and attendance at the after-school program.

With eight afterschool sites in Fallbrook, Boys & Girls Clubs of North County seemed a natural fit for the partnership.

Funding was made available from Community HousingWorks for one club staff member to serve approximately 15 children. Knowing that there were nearly 30 children, not including teens in the apartment complex, the club reached out to one of its long-standing community partners for help.

Diane Garrett and her husband, Paul Goldring Garrett, from the BetterWorld Trust agreed to provide funding for an additional staff. The BetterWorld Trust works with innovative and transformative organizations whose programs are sustainable, regenerative and which have measurable and beneficial results.

Now with two dedicated staff members at the after-school program, the club will be able to serve upward of 40 youth.

"We are so grateful for the wonderful partnerships that have made this opportunity possible," Allison Barclay, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of North County, said. "We are excited to see the growth that has already taken place and can't wait to see the impact this program will have for the residents here at Turnagain Apartments."

The Boys & Girls Club program at Turnagain Apartments will provide members computer access to use for homework, a kitchen for cooking classes, gardens, basketball courts and a terrific outdoor space for members to play after-school.

During the first two weeks of the program, more than 20 members attended daily, up from the 12 children served daily last year. The club believes with time and some more teen-centered events that they will be able to raise the number of those being served to 40 youth by the end of the year.

For more information on ways to give to the club, call their offices at (760) 728-5871 or visit http://www.bgcnorthcounty.org.

For more information on Community HousingWorks visit https://chworks.org.

Submitted by Boys & Girls Clubs of North County.