Volunteers lend helping hand cleaning out clutter at Boys & Girls Club

There’s always a positive difference that can be made.
It’s the kind of difference the Vermilion Boys & Girls Club works to make with youth in the community every day.
On a Saturday in February, the community stepped up to lend a helping hand to the local club.
More than 70 volunteers from Vermilion Reach Group (VRG) and others gathered for a clean-up day at A.A. Comeaux Park, where the club is located.
“We had a lot of help from the community,” Vermilion Boys & Girls Club Director Kimberly Bessard said.
Bessard took over as director late last year. While introducing herself during an Abbeville City Council meeting, Bessard said the club’s facilities did have a good bit of clutter.
“This made a huge difference,” Bessard said of the effort on Saturday. “We got a lot of stuff moved out. We wanted to clean it up and clean it out. There’s just been a lot of stuff that has been sitting there for years.
“We just wanted to give it a clean, fresh feel.”
The number of smiling faces from the volunteers gave the day an excellent feel, too.
“I was so happy to see that,” Bessard said.
Volunteers left some of that positivity for Boys & Girls Club members in the form of notes. Those notes were then put in the shape of a heart.
“All the volunteers wrote little notes for the kids,” Bessard said. “You never know how a kid is feeling that day, so they have some positive quotes and sayings to read every day when they walk in the building.”
The North Vermilion High School Beta Club members did their part to give the kids something positive when they go into the Boys & Girls Club art room.
“I was so impressed with them,” Bessard said. “They went in the art room, and they revamped it.”
Bessard offered thanks to Vermilion Reach Group.
“They have a big reach,” Bessard said.
Stacey Brown Lopez, VRG Education Committee Team Lead, said members were proud to be a part of the effort.
“You cannot fake community, unity, passion, and love for others,” Lopez said. The hands and hearts serving together, ideas flowing, and coming together to better the lives of children in our community were organic and genuine. From the eyes of someone who moved away for 19 years, observing this community of people coming together reminded me of the strength that lives here. It reminded me of what is possible and how important it is to keep showing up in small and big ways. We also appreciate the officials in this parish who chose to join us on this cold, rainy day.”
A less-than-ideal day, weather-wise, last Saturday did leave some cause for concern.
“It was a pretty nasty day,” Bessard said. “I’m so thankful for everyone who came out.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better turnout.”