The North Kitsap Boys & Girls Club is growing! We are happy to report that as of Nov. 1 the North Kitsap Boys & Girls Club has provided terrific after-school programming for 107 members, with an average attendance of 20-plus per day.

Participation in the Boys & Girls Club builds confidence, self-esteem and leadership skills, and has a long-lasting impact — for the students, their families and our community.

The North Kitsap Boys & Girls Club is located within the Kingston Middle School to address the acute need for meaningful after-school programs to benefit kids and help to provide support for working parents. Most seventh- and eighth-grade school athletic teams have limited numbers and many students are not able to participate.

Sixth-grade students are not allowed to participate in inter-district competitive sports at all. Budget cuts have decimated the number of after-school clubs offered at Kingston Middle School. Early release days have increased the number of hours we offer our program.

The Boys and Girls Club, fortunately, is a great alternative and provides students a safe, positive place to relax and participate in a variety of arts, academic, fitness, cooking, and recreation activities. The economic downturn continues and families are experiencing increasing levels of poverty.

In 2008, Kingston Middle School had 35.3 percent of its students qualifying for free or reduced price meals. As of May 2012, the number of students qualifying for free or reduced price meals had increased to 43.4 percent. Of these students, 33 percent were eligible for free meals.

Club membership is $30 a year, with assistance grants available. How do we do this for so little money? We fundraise and write grants to cover the remaining costs. Please donate today. Write your tax deductible check to the NK Boys & Girls Club and mail it to NK Boys & Girls Club, P.O. Box 976, Kingston, WA 98346.