Afterschool Opportunities at the Main Clubhouse!

The Club is excited to offer limited afterschool academic enrichment programming starting Monday, April 26, 2021 at our Main Clubhouse! Enrollment is open for two programs, PowerHour Plus & Middle School Study Hall. Both programs will run for 8 weeks and are designed to support our members transition back to full time learning at school as well as get them engaging safely with their peers.  

PowerHour Plus is for our elementary members, ages 8 & up. This program will run Mondays – Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The program will begin with PowerHour, our Club’s structured homework time and move into an enrichment activity and social recreation time. 

Middle School Study Hall is offered to our members in 6th, 7th and 8th grade and will run Mondays – Thursdays from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Members will be given support on their homework and academic goals and then get to socialize and engage with their peers.

The Club is following strict safety protocols due to the current health crisis which includes limited group sizes, social distanced activities, masking and frequent hand washing. Due to these restrictions there is a 2-day limit per member to accommodate as many youth as possible. This program is not childcare and we do not offer transportation. 

For enrollment forms and more details, click here!

Kick Off Spring Programming this April Vacation!

The Main Clubhouse is excited to begin some spring programming this April Vacation! Club members are invited to join us back in the building for Club Classics, an afternoon full of all our favorite in-person activities. From gym games to art projects and just quality time with Club friends and staff, we are eager to get back to the Club together!

Wednesday, April 21, 2021: 5th Graders
Thursday, April 22, 2021: 4th Graders
Friday, April 23, 2021: 2nd & 3rd Graders – must be 8 years old & up

Members are invited to sign up, based on grade level, to spend an afternoon at the Clubhouse. From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., youth will be in a small group participating in structured activities. The Club is practicing strict COVID protocols including limited capacity, socially distanced activities, masking and frequent hand washing. 

Space is limited. Members must sign up by emailing Meg at m.gamable@bgcwoburn.org. An active 2020-2021 membership form and a $25 membership fee is required to participate in all Club programming. Meg will follow up with all details needed and confirm what is needed to participation.

We look forward to sharing with you some more opportunities this Spring! Keep an eye on our website, that is where you will find the most up to date information and offerings.

Responding to the Need

James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn has been continuously changing its programs and outreach services for more than twelve months now. Here’s an overview of what we have been up to over the past year.

Spring 2020: VIRTUAL CLUBHOUSE & HOME DELIVERIES. The Club shut down on Friday, March 13, 2020 due to the public health crisis. Nearly immediately, staff members launched a virtual Clubhouse where peers could gather with trusted staff members five days per week to do art projects, workouts, and more. Additionally, on a weekly basis staff members delivered groceries, educational materials, hygiene products and more to the doorsteps of our most vulnerable families.

Summer 2020: CAMP IN A BOX & SUMMER ENRICHMENT. During the first week of July, our LEAP Childcare teachers welcomed back one classroom of our preschool and pre-K students with open arms (from a distance!). We offered a limited in-person morning program for eight weeks, and also offered eight weeks of a virtual Camp in a Box program for our Club members.

September – March 2020-2021: SUPERVISED LEARNING CENTER. In September 2020, our LEAP Childcare program opened its second classroom and welcomed back even more students. Additionally, we partnered with Woburn Public Schools, the North Suburban Y and the City of Woburn to create a Supervised Learning Center for Woburn Students. We retrofitted our Clubhouse to become a virtual school where students most in need could attend on their virtual school days. In addition to receiving assistance with their schoolwork, students are served two meals and a snack each day.

Now, as students plan to return to school full time in April 2021, we must transition once again and do what is needed to support the well being of our members while keeping health and safety as a top priority. We anticipate opening some afterschool activities at our satellite locations as well as at the Clubhouse. 

We hope you will consider supporting our important work as we begin planning this next phase of our reopening. Thank you for your understanding and your generosity!

Pot of Gold Grand Prize Drawing

Although the annual St. Patrick’s Day Social at the James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn was called off yet again due to health and safety concerns around the ongoing public health crisis, the organization’s 2021 Pot of Gold raffle was a huge success!

The Club sold $100 raffle tickets for four months, beginning just before Thanksgiving. Raffle proceeds support the ongoing operations at the Boys & Girls Club, supporting children, teenagers, and their families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting at Christmas, $1,000 was given away every Wednesday leading right up to St. Patrick’s Day.

This week, the winning ticket for the grand prize of $20,000 was pulled on March 17, 2021 at the Boys & Girls Club and shown live on Facebook.  The winner was ticket #1457, belonging to Torrice Company. 

Torrice Company President Stephen Torrice shocked Executive Director Julie Gage when he told her “We would like to donate all the winnings back to the Club”!

“We know how difficult this year has been and hope this donation helps the Club prepare to welcome the kids back”. Torrice Company has always been proud to support the JLMBGC.

James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn wishes to thank all those in the community who supported its annual raffle, the largest and most impactful fundraiser of the year. And, save the date for Saturday, March 12, 2022 when we hope to gather back in person at the Club to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day to benefit the kids & teens in our community! To learn more about the Club, visit www.bgcwoburn.org.

Pot of Gold Raffle Winners!

This year, we are giving away $1,000 every week to our wonderful Club supporters! Each Wednesday, we’ll update this post with the latest winners. Occasionally, we’ll also be giving away some bonus prizes, too!  Weekly winners go “back in the bin” for future drawings. Take a chance today!

March 17, 2021

$20,000:  Ticket #1457, Torrice Company

March 10, 2021

$1,000:  Ticket #0189, Jim Foley

March 3, 2021

$1,000:  Ticket #1105, Maher Family

Pirate’s Booty Gift Basket:  Ticket #0742, Colleen Cormier

February 24, 2021

$1,000:  Ticket #0449, Dick Kenney

February 17, 2021

$1,000:  Ticket #0249, Richard DuBois

Mailbox Post:  #0736, Karen & Don Mahoney

February 10, 2021

$1,000:  Ticket #0475, Colleen Cormier

February 3, 2021

$1,000:  Ticket #0327, Tom & Julie Qualey

Cornhole Boards (Patriots & Bruins):  Ticket #807, Colleen O’Brien

January 27, 2021

$1,000:  Ticket #0683, David Ahearn

January 20, 2021

$1,000:  Ticket #0342, Paul Poussard

January 13, 2021

$1,000:  Ticket #0832, Mark Drossos

January 6, 2021

$1,000:  Ticket #0068, Kevin & Katie Young

December 30, 2020

$1,000:  Ticket #0742, Colleen Cormier

MA Lottery Scratch Tickets:  Ticket #0325, Rob Gonsalves & Brian

December 23, 2020

$1,000:  Ticket #0064, Chris Murray & Barbara Bergeron

MA Lottery Scratch Tickets:  Ticket #0394, Mary Ellen Perrotta

Middle School Programming Starting NOW!

James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn is excited to start virtual, middle school programming this January! All middle school students are invited and encouraged to join us for bi-weekly enrichment and social recreation opportunities with your peers.

Teen Director, Katie Sullivan, will be offering varied opportunities for our middle school population to interact and engage with Club staff, high school mentors and other middle school students. Open to all, these meetings will work to encourage positive social interactions, provide a safe space and support teens’ unique needs.

Join our Kick Off Event on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. Email Katie at k.sullivan@bgcwoburn.org to RSVP and receive the registration link. Direct any questions to Katie!

NEW! Teen Leadership Opportunity.

The James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn is excited to announce a new leadership development opportunity for high school members at the Club! Our Youth of the Year program will prepared members in a variety of important leadership skills and culminate in the naming of our 2021 Joseph L. Drew Youth of the Year.

In a year where Club programming and offerings have never looked so different, the Club is adapting our annual Youth of the Year competition. All interested high school members are eligible and encouraged to participate in our 10 week leadership course. This program will feature 10 workshops to develop youth’s public speaking, interview skills and other important 21st Century Learning skills. Youth will complete the 2021 National Youth of the Year application throughout this program and be eligible to be a finalist for our local Youth of the Year award. Finalists will then go on to compete via an interview process for the title of 2021 Joseph L. Drew Youth of the Year.

If you have an questions about our program or this process, please email Meg at m.gambale@bgcwoburn.org. Keep an eye out on our website for updates from this program and our teens as we move forward!

Club Closed: 12/17/20 & 12/18/20

Due to the winter storm, the Clubhouse will be closed on Thursday, December 17, 2020. LEAP Childcare, Supervised Learning and swim team are all canceled.

School is canceled again on Friday, December 18, 2020.  Therefore, LEAP Childcare and the Supervised Learning Center will also be closed as we continue our snow removal.

Stay safe and help somebody if you are able.

Business of the Year

At its annual celebration on November 18, 2020, the Woburn Chamber of Commerce (formerly Woburn Business Association) named the Club as its Business of the Year! All of us at the Club could not be more proud and are thankful to the team at the Chamber for this great honor.

“In a year full of unprecedented challenges, The Club responded with grace to continue their important work of supporting the youth of the city.

The James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn has been serving youth and families in Woburn and the surrounding communities for more than 55 years. Typically, the Club offers recreational, character building, and educational opportunities for kids & teens afterschool. In March, the COVID-19 public health crisis forced the closure of their facility and programs. Quickly, the organization pivoted to provide critical support for families. They created a virtual Clubhouse where kids could socialize with their friends and mentors, delivered food and other necessities to doorsteps of those in need, and made weekly phone calls to others to make sure that all of their ‘Club kids’ were safe and healthy.

Currently, the Club has partnered with Woburn Public Schools and Mayor Scott Galvin to provide a supervised learning environment for students on their remote learning days. The Clubhouse serves as a safe haven for youth who might otherwise be home alone or disengaged from their education. James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn has always been committed to doing ‘whatever it takes’ to help the kids & teens in our community.”

Appliance Recycling Collection

Medeiros Crew Recycling will once again be holding appliance, Freon, CRT, and electronics recycling drives. We’ll start back on Saturday, October 17, 2020, from 9 to 1 at the Spence Farm property located at 41 Wyman Street in Woburn. 

For the health and safety of all, masks will be required to be worn by both customers and volunteers during the collection. Thank you!

This is an excellent opportunity to recycle these items at a minimal cost while supporting a local group or organization each month. There is a significant cost saving compared to the higher cost associated with curbside appliance recycling programs.  In Woburn, the cost for curbside pick-up of many of these items has increased once again in 2020.

The drop-off recycling drives at Spence Farm are open to residents and businesses from all communities, not just Woburn.

With your support, over the years these collections have raised over $150,000 for local non-profit organizations, as well as donations to the Woburn Memorial High School Scholarship Fund.  So, clean out those basements, attics, garages, and warehouses and bring your items to the next drive on October 17th!

Check out the full announcement for the item pricing!