United Way Helps Torch Club Kids Make an Impact
Through the financial support of the United Way of Davidson County, a group of kids at the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club are making a real impact on the healthcare and well-being of others in their community. They are a select group of kids who make up the “Torch Club”. The Torch Club is a “club within the Club,” that helps young people develop and strengthen their leadership skills, giving them a firm foundation of good character and integrity. Torch Club members elect officers and work together to implement projects in the four focus areas: service to Club and community; education; health and fitness; and social recreation.
Recent Torch Club projects included delivering over 11,000 face masks to 13 different schools in Davidson County and giving Christmas and thank you cards to local healthcare workers. These projects have empowered the club youth to be active in their community and to believe that they can make a positive difference to the lives of their neighbors, regardless of their age or background.
Torch Club President Kaneevia Warner, a 12 year old student of Thomasville Middle School, says “Our Torch Club opens doors for us to create positive change in our community to the people who need it the most. When we see a need, our Torch Club is able to work together to plan solutions and then carry them out with the help of the staff and community. And it feels good to see the happy faces of the people we are able to help”.
Club Executive Director Brandon Lomax says that the impact of United Way’s support towards Torch Club projects and other club programs cannot be overstated. “Our kids, especially the older ones, have so many great ideas about meeting needs and making a difference to help the lives of others. United Way’s support to programs such as Torch Club makes it possible for them to have both a voice and an active presence in our community to implement those ideas. As a result, I have seen tremendous growth in their leadership and communication skills. Kids that rarely ever talked at our Club can now be seen planning projects with their peers and meeting with community partners. We are so proud to have community partners that help make this kind of impact possible”.
The Torch Club is currently planning for their upcoming February outreach project called “Cross n Lines”. This project will involve a partnership between the club, local police departments, housing authorities, Amazon, and the Greater Vision Outreach Center. Club youth and police officers will team up to hand out food and healthcare supplies to community residents in Lexington and Thomasville. More information on this event will soon be posted on the club’s Facebook page.
Anyone interested in knowing more about Torch Club projects, or who has interest enrolling a child into the Boys & Girls Club’s afterschool program, may reach out to speak to a club staff member at (336) 472-7800 ext. 1.
