Boys and Girls Club provides safe haven for kids

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- “The staff cares about us, and when we are alone and no one cares and is mad at us, they always come here and make us happy.”

“It help me out to do better in life.”

The Boys and Girls Club gives children the chance to get away from crime and other tense situations in their homes and neighborhoods.

“The kids that we serve, they spend the majority of their life not realizing the adults care about them,” said Robert Parks with the BGAC.

Fort Myers Police say in just the past month, there have been at least two shootings involving kids.  One involved a teenager who was shot in the chest and is now doing okay. The other victim was 5-year-old Andrew Faust who tragically lost his life.

“A lot of these kids are asked to grow up a lot faster than they should,” said Parks.

The club brings those kids to places like Skyzone, to give them a chance to just be themselves.

“It’s fun because of how we jump and we get to do lots of things.”

Even these kids know just how important of a place the Boys and Girls Club can be.

“I feel safer because they support me on things I do, and it helps me feel good about myself and makes me know that I can do better.”