On Monday, September 24, members of the Statesboro Service League, along with Bulloch County Health Department representatives Chandra Hooks and Michelle Bush, talked to the girls about the importance of healthy eating and exercise. The girls were given a copy of the food pyramid and had the opportunity to make trail mix, a combination of peanuts, cheerios, raisins, pretzels and m&m candies.

September 24, 2007- The Boys & Girls Clubs of Bulloch County hosted its 2nd Annual Steak & Burger Dinner on Thursday, September 20.

Approximately 400 people attended the event, which was held at the First Baptist Church of Statesboro. Former Army Ranger Keni Thomas was the keynote speaker for the evening.  Thomas talked about his Army company’s experiences in Mogadishu, Somalia, which are portrayed in the successful novel and movie Black Hawk Down.

 He also stressed the importance of being a leader and setting a good example for others to follow. To conclude his speech, Thomas donned his guitar and sang his chart-topping single “Not  Me.” Before speaking at the Steak & Burger Dinner, Thomas toured the Boys & Girls Clubs.  He posed for pictures with Club members signed autographs and visited the Club’s Denmark Unit and Elvera Mays  Teen Center.

Thomas is currently a singer/songwriter in Nashville,  TN.  He has a band known as Cornbread, which was featured in the 2002 movie Sweet Home Alabama starring Reese Witherspoon. He worked as a military advisor on the set of the 2002 Mel Gibson film We Were Soldiers.  He also portrayed a squad leader in the movie.

Thomas is a recipient of the Bronze Star for Valor and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Sponsors of the event included Sea Island Bank, Farmers & Merchants Bank, First Southern National Bank, Viracon, Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Citizens Bank, Carl Reddick Insurance Agency, Willingway, Park Avenue Bank and Queensborough Bank.

The title sponsor for the event was Wal-Mart Supercenter of Statesboro. Approximately 1,000 people participated in Day for Kids, which was open to the public. Activities at the event included recreational games like tug of war, a sack race and a ring toss.  The event also featured face-painting, a rock climbing wall and several inflatable activities for the kids to enjoy. Refreshments were served throughout the day, and two local mascots, the Chick-fil-A cow and the Shoney’s bear, stopped by to visit the kids.

Other sponsors of the event included Briggs and Stratton, Ellis Meats, Shoney’s, Harvey’s, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Boyd’s BBQ, Dairy Queen, Pepsi, Coca Cola, Shell House, John Dearst Bread Company, Statesboro Floor Covering Service, Newton’s Sport Shop, Lamar Construction, Parker Realty, First Southern National Bank, St. Andrew’s Construction, Lavender & Associates, Home Builders Association, Parker Realty, Nesmith Construction, Walker Pharmacy, Tim Durden Construction and Design, Pearce Building Systems, Dudley Bradley Accounting, Hendrick’s Sports Shop, Phillips Designer Homes and Pope Construction. The BGC would also like to thank Chick-fil-A and Georgia Southern University’s 91.9 the Buzz for their participation in Day for Kids.
 

The BGC has been an integral part of the Statesboro community since 2001. The Club currently serves over 1,200 youth every year.

“The Boys & Girls Clubs Day for Kids is designed to bring families closer together,” said Mike Jones, Executive Director of the BGC.

“We hope that Club members and their families as well as members from the community will come out and show their support at this year’s event,” he said.

Activities at the event will include face-painting, recreational games, fire safety tips courtesy of the Clito Fire Department and more. Refreshments will also be served.

All attendees will be eligible to participate in a raffle featuring a John Deere engine from Briggs and Stratton.