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GARDINER – The Keystone Club of the Kennebec Valley Boys & Girls Club got a thank-you from the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department after raising money for the Next Chapter program, which provides books for incarcerated parents to read to their children.
Kennebec County Sheriff Ken Mason and Jess Quinn of the sheriff’s department thanked the club on Feb. 22, for their creation of the program, which began this month.
Timmy Doyle, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Kennebec Valley’s 2018 Youth of the Year and a member of the Keystone Club collaborated with his teen director, Holly Jordan, to write a grant to buy books for the program.
Jordan had learned from a survey by Healthy Communities of the Capital Area that more than half of the Keystone Club members have (or had) an incarcerated parent.
She discussed with club members the effects that had on them. Many of the teen in the club talked about the disconnect when visiting their parents in jail. As a group they discussed these moments and collectively agreed to create a book program.
In November, the club was notified they had received the $500 grant to buy books.
Along with the grant and money raised through fundraising, they bought books at Barnes & Noble. Sentiments were written in the books, by the parent, and during visits they would read to their child a book he/she could take home. The project goal was to make a time of loneliness, embarrassment and confusion a little bit easier and more personal for the children involved.
“I have had the personal experience of having a single parent figure in my life and I know how that’s affected me in my life. Any difference I can make in the life of a child experiencing a similar situation is a change I want to make,” said Doyle.
Those interested in volunteering, sponsoring or donating, may contact Ingrid Stanchfield, chief executive officer, at 207-582-8458 or istanchfield@bgckv.org.
For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of Kennebec Valley, follow the organization on Facebook or check the website, www.bgckv.org.
