Our Story

Our Club has a humble beginning. What was once a gas station on Elm Street eventually became the home of the Boys & Girls Club in 1996, just one year after the organization was founded. In 2014, the Elm Street facility was demolished due to a highway improvement project. The Jefferson City community came to the rescue of the Club and raised over $3M to construct a new state-of-the-art facility. The Lincoln University Board of Curators deeded land on campus to construct the new facility making our Boys & Girls Club the first Club headquartered on an HBCU (Historically Black College & University) in the country.

In May 2017, the new Boys & Girls Club Railton Center opened its doors. The Club is open year-round serving close to 1,000 children per year. When the children arrive, they enjoy an after school snack before moving into homework/reading time where children read for 20 minutes every day, receive help with homework and tutoring if needed. After homework time, children enjoy a multitude of activities including STEM, art, physical fitness, music, dance and more! Children also receive a hot, nutritious dinner before going home. It’s important our Club kids NEVER go to bed hungry. And what does this service cost a low income family? Only $25/semester because money should never be a barrier for a child who needs us most!

Check out this video courtesy of Jay Pelzer that captures the reaction of Club Kids as they see the Railton Center for the first time.

In addition to the Railton Center, the Boys & Girls Club also serves children after school at Callaway Hills Elementary School as well as at the Knowles YMCA Annex Building. Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City also provides before school care at Lewis & Clark Middle School.