BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB OF GREATER DUBUQUE

BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB OF GREATER DUBUQUE. In January 1998 the DUBUQUE BOYS' CLUB and the DUBUQUE GIRLS' CLUB announced their agencies had agreed to merge. The action, which would take place in November, would allow both organizations to serve more people. The Boys' Club at 1299 Locust with a membership of 1,200 was already a member of the Boys' and Girls' Club of America. The Girls' Club, at 1638 Iowa, was a privately operated organization. The merger would affiliate it with the national organization. Until the actual merger took place, the evening meals program continued at their respective locations. Hours at both organizations and the size of the staff remained the same. (1)

In 2000 the club began the Youth of the Year program. Each month, the staff named a Youth of the Month. At the end of the program each year the Youth of the Year recipients were named. In 2008 the boy and girl named Youth of the Year received a free membership to the Club for the following year and "two large bags of goodies." (2)

After reducing its development plans, the organization received the Historic Preservation Commission approval of its plan to construct a 7,000-square-foot program center and gymnasium adjacent to its building at 1299 Locust. (3)

At the start of the COVID-19 PANDEMIC, the organization began offering community meals at locations within Dubuque. On January 14, 2021 the local club was expecting to distribute its 100,000th free meal. (4)

For decades the organization offered after-school programming and support. In 2022 the club had 130 enrolled members with most coming from low-income families. Statistics indicated that 70% of the members were on scholarships which covered the $30 annual membership fee. Included in the services was providing free meals to weeknights year-round in a partnership program with the U S. Department of Agriculture's Child and Adult Care Food Program.

The club fed approximately 200 children each night including 50 to 60 at its location on Locust Street with the remainder at the Terrace Heights Mobile Home Park community center. Through the federally funded Summer Food Service Program the organization also served breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack throughout the summer. Staff assisted students with homework and played games.

In addition to the meals, the Club offered arts and crafts, dance classes and such science programs as technology, engineering and math. While most programming was focused on elementary students, the organization assisted high-school students with a Degree to Diplomas program which encouraged a college education. (5)

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Source:

1. Gwiasda, Susan B. "Boys Club, Girls Club Intend to Join Forces," Telegraph Herald, January 30, 1998, p. 2

2. Becker, Stacey, "Club Awards Two 'Good Kids," Telegraph Herald, August 15, 2008, p. 3

3. "March 17," Telegraph Herald, January 1, 2001, p. 29

4. Mehl, Annie, "Boys & Girls Clubs Serve 100,000 Meals," Telegraph Herald, January 14, 2021, p. 1A

5. Irvine, Joshua, "Local Boys and Girls Club Strives to Shape Community's Future," Telegraph Herald, December 21, 2022, p. 5A