The Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club in Cairo is making an impact in the community and in the lives of its members.

At Tuesday evening’s Cairo City Council meeting, Jeffery Brown, the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club Cairo Unit director, explained the impact the club is making on the community and the youth of Cairo.

In 2009, the club opened with 125 kids. Currently, there are 232 boys and girls ages 6-18 enrolled in club activities. The kids participate Monday through Friday.

“The club has made an impact on the community. It has kept the kids going to school,” Brown said. “There have not been many absences and we are also proud of this year’s CRCT scores, with a 95 percent pass rating. We are very pleased with our results.”

Brown reported that in one of the after-school classes at the club during the first semester, 18 of 35 students had at least one failing grade. By the end of the semester, all students had passing grades in those subjects.

He said, “In that class, 24 made A/B honor roll, two students had all A’s and the rest pulled the F’s up to at least a C. All were passing.”

A basic day at the club for the students consists of a “Power Hour” in which the students finish their homework after school. If they do not have homework, the students read books. Meals are provided to the students. Also, a drug and alcohol education program is offered.

In order to get the students more involved in the community, the Boys & Girls Club visited nursing homes in the surrounding area, including Magnolia Nursing Home in Cairo and the nursing home in Whigham.

“We plan to continue visits this summer,” said the unit director.

This summer, the club is planning various education and recreational activities in hopes of getting the kids involved. Tutoring will be made available to the students who did not pass all portions of the CRCT test.

Recreational activities for the summer will include a 5K Walk in August, and baseball and softball teams beginning July 19. The ball teams were made possible by a Major League Baseball grant. According to Brown, the club needs 184 kids to participate in the program.

He said, “If you have grandkids or kids, we are looking for them to sign up for baseball or softball this summer.”

Brown also thanked the council for its continued support.

For more information on the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club and their activities, visit www.mnw-bgc.org.

Reporter Susanne Reynolds can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.