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Boys and Girls Club marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Fourteen-year-olds Katerina Floyd, left, and Joseph Whipkey, right, gather hygiene items to go in backpacks for homeless teens, part of a public service project members of the Parkersburg Boys and Girls Club performed Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Photo by Michael Erb)

PARKERSBURG — The Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg presented educational activities and youth service projects Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Cyndi Auth, director of programs for the Boys and Girls Club, said the lessons Monday revolved around the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speeches and his call for “service in words.”

“We talked about the power of his speeches and the ability to use words to help make a change,” she said.

Younger children were tasked with writing letters about bullying: One from the point of the victim of bullying, one from the bully and a third from a bystander.

“It’s about empowering the kids and teaching them to use the power of their words,” she said.

Fifteen-year-old Hailey Davis, left, and fourteen-year-old Joseph Cline, right, place items in backpacks for homeless teens. (Photo by Michael Erb)

The children also learned the story of Ruby Bridges, who at age 6 in 1960 became the first black child to enroll at a desegregated school in New Orleans. Bridges faced incredible opposition from the community, with angry crowds screaming and throwing things at her as she was escorted into the school by law enforcement.

“We’re looking at her story for how we can be more welcoming, in our lives and here at the club,” Auth said.

The club’s teens spent the day learning about the issues of poverty, hunger and homelessness. Representatives of the Circles Campaign spoke to the teens about their programs and the need for outreach.

The teens prepared backpacks to be distributed to homeless youths in the area. The packs included school supplies, a book, a water bottle and personal hygiene items.

Younger volunteers helped make blankets which were included in the backpacks.

Children helped make dog toys which will be distributed at the Humane Society of Parkersburg.

Neha Butani, an AmeriCorps VISTA leader, said the community service projects are an important way to teach youth to look for opportunities to give back.

“We do projects throughout the year,” she said. “We do a lot of outreach with the kids to get them into community service.”

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