“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”
I’m excited to announce that I am a Boys & Girls Club (BGCA) Back-to-School Ambassador! Yes, it’s already time to start talking back-to-school. Did you think summer would last forever? My son just came to me last night and asked how many days of his vacation were left, then informed me that I needed to take him shopping for supplies soon. I am thrilled to spread the word about BGCA because they do so many great things to help kids get the tools they need for a successful future.
Growing up Latchkey
Growing up, I spent a few years as a “latchkey” kid. Do they still call them that? Back then, it was relatively safe for me to stay at home after school watching my little brother. It was a slightly different world. My mom usually got home less than two hours after I did, so it wasn’t like I was spending the entire day and night on my own. Many kids today aren’t just spending an hour or two on their own, though. They’re spending the entire time from the moment they get out of school until they tuck themselves into bed fending for themselves. This is not an ideal situation on any level.
First, it’s just not a safe way for kids to spend their after-school hours. So many things could go wrong. I know Jacob is only 8, so he has years to go before he is staying home alone, but the idea freaks me out! Second, these kids aren’t getting the help they need with their homework. Last year Jacob had more homework on any given night than I had during an entire week at his age! Imagine being a kid and having no one to help you figure out the areas that you’re having a hard time with. Every child has the right to a quality education, and part of that education happens at home.
The thing is, most of the parents who leave their children home alone after school aren’t doing it to be neglectful. They’re typically not out gallivanting around town having the time of their lives. Like my mom as a kid, they are working hard to support their families. When jobs are hard to come by, it’s a little difficult to tell a potential employer “sorry, but I can’t work after 3pm because my kids get home at that time.”
BGCA helps keep kids safe and supervised after school through numerous different programs. From young kids to teens, there is a program that not only provides supervision but also gives kids the tools they need to succeed.
How can you help BGCA provide great futures?
Throughout the month of July, every time you shop at JCPenney, you’ll have a chance to donate to BGCA and their initiative to help give all kids a great future. Just round up your purchase to the nearest dollar! That’s all you have to do! If your total comes to, say, $15.25, round up to $16. It’s so painless to your wallet, yet every cent makes such a huge difference in the life of a child.
Be sure to come back next month for my next BGCA Back-to-School Ambassador post!
