Community Connections Project In Bristol Providing Opportunities

By Brian M. Johnson, The Bristol Press

July 14, 2021

The Community Connections project at the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol provides opportunities for children to socialize, do art and community service projects and learn about mindfulness.

The free program, which is sponsored by the Petit Family Foundation and available to families with children ages 8 to 18, was held for the first time this past Saturday. It will be held again this Saturday, July 17 as well as Aug. 7 and Aug. 21 at the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol’s Family Center at 255 West St.

The program begins at 9 a.m. with continental breakfast, followed by a welcome, introduction and group activity from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. This will be followed by a family community service activity from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by an art or creative activity from 11 a.m. to noon. There will then be a yoga or meditation-based activity offered from noon to 12:30 p.m. The day of activities will close with lunch from 12:30 to 1 p.m.

D'Andre Esposito, director of community partnerships at the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol, said the club has expanded the maximum participants from 50 to 80 this week to encourage more families to attend.

“This is a fantastic program that we are glad to be able to provide post-pandemic,” Esposito said. “We are seeing that one of the biggest needs for families at this time is to provide opportunities for their children to re-engage socially with people that they don’t know, outside of their families. We are very thankful to the Petit Family Foundation for sponsoring this program.”

Bill Petit said the grants committee from the Petit Family Foundation loved the idea of the Community Connections project when they heard about it.

“It has been a long year-and-a-half for the kids,” he said. “Some of them have been in school, others have had a hybrid learning schedule and others have been at home. To have a program like this where kids can get together and socialize with kids from all over town is very helpful. We see this as a very worthwhile program, especially on the heels of the pandemic. It’s great to see kids getting outside and doing things again.”

To register for Saturday’s program, visit eventbrite.com/e/158418143933.

For more information, visit bbgc.org or email nicole@bbgc.org or call 860-540-3114.

Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristo;press.com.