Mallie Boston, CEO of the Glasgow-Barren County Boys & Girls Club, speaks at a press conference held at the former New Farmers National Bank along Columbia Avenue in Glasgow on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
By BRENNAN D. CRAIN, WCLU News
GLASGOW — Eyes were streaming with tears and sniffles could be heard across a huddled audience at the corner of Grand Avenue and Columbia Avenue on Tuesday afternoon as the local Boys & Girls Club announced its newest location.
After securing a $2 million grant from the Craft Foundation’s leaders Joe and Kelly Craft, the club was able to announce that they will soon expand to the former New Farmers National Bank. They’ll call it the Craft Innovation Campus. The multi-story office space has been vacant for several months and was most recently advertised for lease.
“For the first time ever, we’ll be able to remove our waitlist and we’ve never ever been able to do that,” said Mallie Boston, CEO of the Glasgow-Barren County Boys & Girls Club. “And we’re also going to be able to triple our numbers.”
Boston said the club will maintain its $45 annual membership fee to be inclusive of all children. The waitlist – on average – includes over 100 local kids, Boston said. The club also expects to expand its programming to include workforce development classes for those aged 18 to 25.
The money was requested within the last year through an application to the Craft Foundation, a non-profit group started by the Crafts. The two were at a press conference held at the new location on Tuesday afternoon. Kelly Craft is also a Republican candidate for governor in Kentucky this year. A campaign staff member clarified to members of the news media that she was not treating the public outing as a formal campaign event, however.
Curious children surrounded the Crafts as they spoke in front of the former bank.
“Everyone I meet wants their children and grandchildren to have the best future possible to be able to reach their full potential,” Kelly Craft said. “And I can think of no better place to be than to make something like that happen than my hometown of Glasgow, Kentucky. ”
As Craft recalled her first job as a switchboard operator at New Farmers Bank, she stammered through her words. She became emotional when talking about the future of the children at the club.
“I’m am so impressed, too, about what the program does,” Joe Craft said. “Kelly and I are always looking to find a way to help people who help themselves.”
Mary Lee England, a past CEO of the local club, was named in Boston’s remarks for her work with the club. She was also in attendance at the press conference.
While speaking with England, a testament to the club’s impact was demonstrated. A child came up to England with excitement gleaning from his youthful smile. She said those who work each day with the children have a great impact on their lives and the community at large.
“A lot of the youth in our community don’t even have a space that they feel like is their own – where they can grow, where they’re inspired, where they’re supported, where they’re given a platform – to reach their goals and dreams,” she said.
Officials with the club are also expanding to the former Houchens grocery store in Cave City. Construction plans are in place for The Boys & Girls Club of the Caverns project but officials with the club are awaiting a grant, which is expected to be announced in May. The project had been pledged $1.5 million as of November 2022.
Boston said the club’s lease with the Glasgow Housing Authority will soon end at the HERO Center along Cheatham Street. All Glasgow-based functions will soon be housed at the Columbia Avenue site. They hope to make a full transition by September.
“Really, the main thing is we’re going to be able to work with more kids,” Boston said.
