More space to serve and nurture local youth

A groundbreaking was held this past Friday for the new addition to the Moody County Boys and Girls Club.
The new space will include a full-size gym, concession stand, meeting rooms, a new program space, more defined and designated areas for different age groups, and extra room to adapt to changing needs of diverse community.
Part of the gym space being built out will also include areas open to the public for fitness.
Board members along with local Boys and Girls Club President, Jody Hernandez, thanked many from across the community for their support and involvement and the opportunity to partner to make something so good happen for the families that call Flandreau and the broader area their home.
Since the start of the Boys and Girls Club of Moody County, the staff, our volunteers, and the community have displayed a steadfast commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders, innovators and changemakers, said Hernandez.
This isnt about adding square footage or amenities, its about building a space where more youth can be served more oftenwhere we can continue to partner to support more families in our community, and ultimately where every young person feels valued, inspired and empowered to reach their full potential whether its through sports, arts or wellness activities, we are dedicated to providing our youth with tools they need to survive and thrive.
The Club currently serves approximately 450 youth on a regular basis. The goal is to continue to make Club access affordable and accessible to all.
This Club has meant so much to me, said Dana Garcia, who will be a freshman at Flandreau Public School in the fall, she has been coming to the Club since she was in first grade.
Not only has it helped me get through tough times, but also helps me with homework, school projects, and much more than you can imagine.
Lead gifts for the expansion were recognized from the Larson and Ramsdell families. Board President for the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Plains, Scott Ramsdell, spoke briefly at the event about why the family continues to give to the program, stating that it is a mission the entire family believes in and they are grateful to give back to a community that has given so much to them.
He paused, as he added that the gym in the new facility would be named in honor of their son whos life was tragically lost many years ago. The gym will be called the James Christopher Ramsdell Gym.
The gift the family has given for this latest project with the local Boys and Girls Club brings total giving to over a million dollars.
Also recognized was the team from First District which helped with the Community Development Block Grant application, the City of Flandreau for donating the land, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, Big Als and Mills Contractors, and First Savings Bank.
Were blessed to have these kinds of facilities, its just amazing for this community where it is now, the generosity of donors, Jody being able to pull together the coalition to make this happen, said Mayor Dan Sutton.
As the addition onto the Club moves forward, Hernandez reminded the crowd that they eagerly await word on another grant request for an adjacent proposed Childcare Center. Information is expected on that project in the coming weeks.