Give The Gift Of A Great Future To The After School Program – Support the Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite

With the Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite opening its doors a week from now, and the excitement building for Christmas, I wanted to talk more about the After School Program at the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club.

After all, the Teddy Bear Suite is more than a place of holiday magic, it is a multi-week holiday event that raises money and awareness for the Boys & Girls Club and its After School Program, used by hundreds of Island children and their families.

Homework Made Fun

I love stopping by the Boys & Girls Club. There’s always a lot of fun being had, and there are always a bunch of happy kids running around. However, it’s not just a place for fun. It’s also a great place for kids to do their homework.

The homework room is a quiet room, away from the gym and game room. It has a number of brand new computers, a gift from Comcast last year, and there’s a volunteer there to help kids with their homework.

I love “interviewing” kids. They are guaranteed to make me smile and warm my heart. I talked first with Manuel, who is an 11-year-old who with a passion for math, which he was working on the day I visited.

Fractions, not my favorite thing, but he was having fun with them. Manuel has been coming to the Boys & Girls Club since first grade. He’s now in sixth grade.

Manuel does not like to do homework at home. When he gets home after his long day, he just likes to relax. Don’t we all Manuel!

For Manuel, the Boys & Girls Club helps him get his homework done, and then he can do all the things he really likes to do such as play soccer and dodgeball. For him, the Boys & Girls Club has it all, and he loves being there.

Oh when he grows up, Manuel wants to be a Marine Biologist. Pretty cool, Manuel.

Tristin, a 10-year-old, was doing math too, multiplication, a little easier math I think. He’s been going to the Boys & Girls Club for four years now. He works on his home work here, but his motivation is a little different than Manuel’s.

Tristin is sure to get his homework done because it’s part of how he earns his allowance. So, he gets it done first thing after school, and then can get on to the fun things happening, like playing with his friends who are also at the Club. Whatever the motivation, as long as he is getting his homework done.

Nine-year-old Jasmyn, who is in third grade, also likes to do homework at the Boys & Girls Club. She likes that there is a quiet place to do her work, and that there is always someone there to help her if she has questions.

Jasmyn also likes that she can use the computer for homework research. I think I didn’t use a computer for research until I was a freshman in college — times have changed.

Another reason Jasmyn likes the Boys & Girls Club is that she loves basketball. She is on one of their teams, the Purple team, and it’s her favorite way to spend her time there. She also likes the color turquoise, enjoys reading, and wants to be a singer when she grows up. How adorable is she!

Quin was also working on his homework. The fourth grader likes getting his homework done at the Boys & Girls Club because it’s easier there. He doesn’t do homework at home.

For him, when the work is done, it’s on to bumper pool or playing air hockey. Sometimes, if he’s looking to relax, he likes to watch a movie at there. Not a bad way to spend time after school with your friends

A Helping Hand

At the After School Program at the Boys & Girls Club, you’ll find a volunteer helping kids out with their homework. Holly was there helping the kids with their math homework.

Holly used to work at the Club years ago, and now, loves being able to spend a couple hours helping the kids with homework. She loves the fact that they each have such different and fun personalities, and they really appreciate the time she spends with them.

More Than a Place for Homework

The After School Program is more than air hockey and homework. It is a place where kids go to be with their friends, a place where kids can be kids, and not have to worry about a thing.

It’s a place where parents can know that their child is safe and having fun after school, while the parent is still at work.

Teddy Bear Suite Fundraiser

Please help support the After School Program and the Boys & Girls Club by supporting the Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite. The doors on the actual suite at the Harbor View Hotel open next week during Christmas in Edgartown.

Admission is free, but donations are welcome at the event. Knowing that every dollar raised goes directly to help Island children and their families year round.

If you can’t visit the Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite during Christmas in Edgartown, you can still help us make our holiday fundraising goal of $10,000. All the money raised goes directly to support the amazing Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club After School Program which serves hundreds of Island children and their families.

Most of the money from our annual three week Teddy Bear Suite fundraising drive is donated online. We have already raised more than $2,000 and to help make our goal of $10,000 this year, Point B is matching 50-cents for every dollar raised online. Click here to here to donate.

Teddy Bear Suite Hours

Suite 201 at the Harbor View Hotel

• Friday, December 13th, 4 – 8 p.m.
• Saturday, December 14th, 12 – 6 p.m.
• Sunday, December 15th, 10 – 2 p.m.

Thanks for reading the On Point Blog. For more information about the Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite, visit  MVTeddyBearSuite.com or the Point B Facebook page. Speaking of social media, please don’t forget to  “Like” us on Facebook, on follow us on Twitter,  Linkedin, Google+, Pinterest  and YouTube.