In a winter with seven days of snow days so far, the Boys and Girls Club of Moody County has served more kids.
It’s a service to the community that helps parents have peace of mind when bad weather hits and helps school kids have a safe place to spend the day.
“We are able to able to open the doors on snow days,” said Karla Eidem, chief development officer. “Even through the polar vortex we had, we were the one of the few open that week.” The club opens from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on snow days. Otherwise, it is open after school.
Like winter, it’s also the time of year when the club reaches out to the community through a phone-a-thon to raise money to support their services. This year’s goal is to raise $7,000.
Volunteers have made phone calls in the past few weeks asking people to donate to the local nonprofit.
“We still make our annual membership affordable to most, if not all, families,” she said.

For $1 a day or $25 a year, families can send a child to the club where they can study, participate in activities, burn off energy and get a snack and in summer months, a meal. The maximum cost for one family is $75 for three or more children.
But providing programs costs the club about $800 per child, Eidem said. “That’s why we absolutely need the support of the community.”
Businessman Scott Ramsdell, a new board member and long-time club supporter, said he hopes others in the community want to help, too, because the facility is an asset for Flandreau, for families and for children. “It’s a big deal for the development of the child in that environment. It’s a wonderful environment,” he said.
The club helps parents make sure their children have a safe place to go after school or on days off from school when parents still need to work, he said. That’s been important this year with all of the snow days.
The facility is something that also could help draw young families to town, he said.  “It is a phenomenal place to go.”
On snow days, the club manager has a list of staff she can call on, employees that help do everything from opening the doors to shoveling to serving the children. They welcome whoever shows up, even though attendance is not as high as on regular days.
“It’s not as busy. It’s not a lot of kids,” Eidem said. Two snacks are provided during the day, and children bring a sack lunch for their noon meal.
Community members interested in helping the club meet is financial goal can drop off a check at the facility, donate online for Moody County at www.greatfuturessd.org or mail a check to the club at 803 W. Community Drive. Anyone with questions can call 573-0150.
The agency is encouraging people to match dollars raised, as well, in order for the club to meet its goal serving children, Eidem said.
“We are just seeing the need really in the community for kids to come to a safe place after school,” she said.