Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield

Each year, the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield, a youth development organization providing programs and services to children and families throughout the greater South Shore community, selects one exceptional Club member as “Youth of the Year” to serve as an ambassador for the Club’s youth as well as a voice for all young people. 

The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield is pleased to announce Jessica Martin, a senior at Marshfield High School, has been named the 2020 Marshfield Youth of the Year. 

Ms. Martin has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield for 10 years. Over the last four years, Ms. Martin has held the role of Afterschool Staff/Summer Camp Counselor at the Club, where she wears “a number of hats” taking on duties ranging from helping with homework to supervising the Games Room. In September 2019, Ms. Martin became the President of the Keystone Club, and has since planned a variety of successful fundraisers.

Outside of the Club, Ms. Martin has served as After School Program staff for Marshfield Recreation Department. For the past six years, she has taught Pre-school and Kindergarten CCD as an assistant teacher at her church. In 2016, Ms. Martin received the Library Volunteer of the Year award from Furnace Brook Middle School for having the most volunteer hours, and in 2018, she received the National Honor Society award. A dedicated volunteer, Ms. Martin has volunteered 95 hours over the past 12 months to the Boys & Girls Club and the community.

As Youth of the Year, Ms. Martin will continue to spread awareness about the Club as a resource and its important role for youth and teens throughout the community. She has her sights set on becoming a teacher and intends to major in Elementary and Special Education at Endicott College in Beverly, MA in the fall.

“I can’t imagine where I would be right now, as the Club has been my second home,” said Ms. Martin. “The Club really played a significant part in my life after elementary school, as I was faced with new challenges. I look forward to starting college in the fall, but I will definitely return to the Club on break and continue to volunteer and give back to this amazing organization that has given me so much.”

About Youth of the Year

Since 1947, Youth of the Year has been Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BCGA) premier recognition program, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Club members. Each year, one exceptional young person from a Boys & Girls Club rises to the role of National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year serves as both an exemplary ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth and as a strong voice for all of our nation’s young people.

The journey to being named National Youth of the Year begins locally and progresses to state, regional and national levels, with an additional military phase for members of BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations.

The Election Process

There are a number of steps that must be taken prior to being named Youth of the Year at the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield. Club staff members nominate several teens, who are then asked to write an essay on the “Club experience”. The essays are read by staff and volunteers and four are selected. The top four candidates interview with a panel to discuss their essay, club impact and four areas of development – education, community service, leadership and family life. After the interviews, the panel and club leadership discuss and elect Youth of the Year.

Ms. Martin’s next step is to advance to the State level and compete against 43 other teens from across the commonwealth. This virtual event will take place on June 18, 2020.

“Jessica has tremendous leadership ability and she is a wonderful role model,” said Jim Bunnell, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield. “It is our great pleasure to honor Jessica as the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield’s Youth of the Year. We wish her every success in the future.”

About the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield

The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield’s mission is to enable and inspire all young people to realize their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens as well as become tomorrow’s capable leaders. The Club provides programming opportunities in the Boys & Girls Club of America’s (BGCA) five core areas including leadership, education, health, arts, and fitness.  

Currently, the Club serves hundreds of families with children ranging in age from 6 to 18 years old, providing afterschool, vacation week and summer programs, as well as youth athletics, teen, social recreational and leadership opportunities. For more information, visit their website https://www.bgcmarshfield.org or call 781-834-2582.

Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield Announces “2020 Youth of the Year”Read More

When the 40th edition of Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America had to be rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, State Representative Patrick Kearney and suppliers quickly stepped up and arranged for the seafood to be donated to families and children in need.

More than 700 pounds of prepackaged restaurant-grade flash frozen Trident Seafood (originally earmarked for the Expo) was donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield to serve families who would benefit. The seafood included pollock, fillet, shrimp and lobster, which are ingredients many families use in stir fry recipes, stews, and fish tacos. The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield divided the seafood donation, half of it was distributed to 40 local families and the other half to Quincy Community Action Program’s food center for distribution to families in need.

The Boys & Girls Club would like to thank the seafood suppliers, along with Representative Kearney, Jack McGinnis from JD Transport, Charlie DiPesa from F.J. O’Hara & Sons, Inc., Julie Johnson and Steve Meneely from the Marshfield Food Pantry, Chuck Haddad from Haddad’s Ocean Café in Marshfield, and Dan Burke, Boys & Girls Club Board member, for their assistance in coordinating the donation.

“The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield works alongside the Marshfield Food Pantry and Marshfield School Department and has become a food distribution site that serves hundreds of families and children throughout the area,” Jim Bunnell, CEO Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield. “Representative Kearney connected with us for assistance in getting this generous donation to families who would benefit. We’re extremely grateful to everyone involved who worked with us in this essential mission to support local families. We will do whatever it takes to meet the needs of kids and communities.”

Serving the Needs of Children & Families during COVID-19 Pandemic

The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield is committed more than ever, to ensure that members, families, and communities have the resources and support they need to navigate these uncertain times. Although the Club is closed for onsite programming until further notice, they are still providing services and doing critical work to help youth, families and communities. These services include:

– Distributing meals and essential supplies to kids

– Providing affordable childcare support to first responders, healthcare workers, and essential staff

– Providing tutoring and age appropriate counseling support

– Supplying access to virtual programming

To learn more about the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield or to access virtual programming, visit https://www.bgcmarshfield.org

About the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield

The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield’s mission is to enable and inspire all young people to realize their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens as well as become tomorrow’s capable leaders. The Club provides programming opportunities in the Boys & Girls Club of America’s (BGCA) five core areas including leadership, education, health, arts, and fitness.  

Currently, the Club serves hundreds of families with children ranging in age from 6 to 18 years old, providing afterschool, vacation week and summer programs, as well as youth athletics, teen, social recreational and leadership opportunities. For more information, visit their website www.bgcmarshfield.org or call 781-834-2582.

Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield Receives 700+ lbs. Seafood Donation to Help Families in NeedRead More

The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield, a youth development organization providing programs and services to children and families throughout the greater South Shore community, is pleased to announce Rockland Federal Credit Union has renewed their corporate partnership with the Club for 2020.

Rockland Federal Credit Union has been a longtime supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield. They were a large supporter of the Club’s new building campaign when the Club moved from a 4,000 square foot storefront to their Proprietor’s Drive location. The current state-of-the-art 17,000 square foot clubhouse officially opened its doors in June, 2012 and includes a gymnasium, arts center, elementary games room, learning center, computer lab, kitchen, teen center, pool and playground.

Rockland Federal Credit Union also gave a large gift in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield’s recent Outdoor Clubhouse Expansion Project. The Outdoor Classroom is a designated fenced-in area containing flower and vegetable gardens, a patio and seating area that supports Club programming such as natural sciences, nutrition and art classes.

“Rockland Federal Credit Union has been a proud community partner of the Marshfield Boys & Girls Club for 14 years,” said Karen Macedo of Rockland Federal Credit Union. “We believe in supporting the programs and services offered by the Boys & Girls Club, which help make a difference in the lives of those within our community.”

“We are very thankful to  Rockland Federal Credit Union for their generosity and ongoing support which ultimately helps us to deliver programs that are the cornerstone of youth development and fulfill our mission in the community,” said Jim Bunnell, CEO Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield.

The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield has hundreds of member families and serves more than 5,000 youth annually from all across the South Shore in afterschool, school vacation and summer camp programs.

About the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield

The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield’s mission is to enable and inspire all young people to realize their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens as well as become tomorrow’s capable leaders. The Club provides programming opportunities in the Boys & Girls Club of America’s (BGCA) five core areas including leadership, education, health, arts, and fitness.  

Currently, the Club serves hundreds of families with children ranging in age from 6 to 18 years old, providing afterschool, vacation week and summer programs, as well as youth athletics, teen, social recreational and leadership opportunities. For more information, visit their website www.marshfieldbgc.com or call 781-834-2582.

Rockland Federal Credit Union Renews Corporate Partnership with Boys & Girls Club of MarshfieldRead More

Nearly 200 cars cruised through Briteway’s Haunted Car Wash, held October 29-30^th at their Marshfield location. All proceeds, totaling $5,000, were donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield in support of programming.

The Haunted Car Wash was an entertaining event that featured spooky scenes such as a graveyard, witches lair and sunken ship. Volunteers from the Boys & Girls Club donned creepy costumes – vampires, werewolves, mummies, zombies and other creatures – and provided patrons with a haunted experience.

“The Haunted Car Wash was a tremendous success and a truly memorable event. We’re grateful for Briteway’s ongoing support and thank them for their generous donation,” said Jim Bunnell, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield.

To learn more about Briteway Car Wash, visit their website at https://www.britewaycarwash.com/briteway_car_wash.php

Club Programming

The Boys & Girls Club’s programming is extensive. The afterschool program provides a social and recreational room for elementary school students, a full court gymnasium, as well as an active art center. Students can learn about healthy food choices and discover the art of cooking in the Club’s commercial kitchen. Tutors and instructors help children with their homework in the Club’s learning center, and there is a computer center for STEAM and STEM programming.

About the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield

The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield’s mission is to enable and inspire all young people to realize their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens as well as become tomorrow’s capable leaders. The Club provides programming opportunities in the Boys & Girls Club of America’s (BGCA) five core areas including leadership, education, health, arts, and fitness.  

Currently, the Club serves hundreds of families with children ranging in age from 6 to 18 years old, providing afterschool, vacation week and summer programs, as well as youth athletics, teen, social recreational and leadership opportunities. For more information, visit their website www.marshfieldbgc.com or call 781-834-2582.

Haunted Car Wash Raises $5K for Boys & Girls Club of MarshfieldRead More