Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi cuts ribbon on Ripley clubhouse
RIPLEY — The Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi cut the ribbon on its new Ripley clubhouse on Monday, marking the official opening of the facility, which has been in use since mid-summer.
The clubhouse, formerly a National Guard facility, opened for local students on Aug. 8. About 40 students are currently attending the afterschool programs there, and that number is growing, said Evie Storey, BGCNMS director of marketing and special events.
"Since 1996, Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi has been here for our community serving youth 6 to 18 years of age year-round and giving children a safe place to go after school and during summer months," the BGCNMS website reads.
"We are not daycare centers," BGCNMS CEO Zell Long said. "We are not babysitters. When those children come through the door, serving 6 to 18 years of age, they are coming in to learn, to learn how to be good citizens. ... They are becoming effective, caring young people."
The Ripley clubhouse has been a longtime dream of the BGCNMS, Long said. It's one of two clubhouse properties that BGCNMS owns outright, the other being the Oxford clubhouse.
The clubhouse facility includes a gym, a kitchen, a game room, a study room and a computer room. The next project at the clubhouse will probably be deciding what to do with the outdoors space, Storey said. Setting up a volleyball court is one of the ideas under consideration.
BGCNMS also plans to plant a magnolia on the premises in honor of Bobby Martin, Beverly Hankins, Sallie Ann Storey, Teresa Johnson and Norris Howell, who all supported the Ripley club before their deaths.
"Most cities our size don't get to have a Boys & Girls Club because they're so expensive to run," BGCNMS board member Trey Hankins said, addressing those gathered for the ribbon cutting. "We (in Ripley) like to support our own. ... Because of the way God has blessed the club through all of you, our club now is financially self-sufficient."
Speakers at the event included Long, Hankins, The Peoples Bank CEO Mary Childs, BGCNMS board member John Nance, Jimmy Gunn of the Tippah County Board of Supervisors, BGCNMS board president Lisa Nichols, Ripley Mayor Jon Grisham, Ripley High School Principal Anita Hood and BGCNMS board member James Storey.
"My hat's off to everyone who had a hand in this safe and positive environment for these kids to come to," Grisham said.
