At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana, all of the older members are encouraged to help out where they can.

Directors say younger students benefit the most from peer mentoring. Club members also take a special interest in volunteering outside of the club.

At the Jackie Club in Lafayette, club member Khalid Valliere says they are involved in many different projects in the community. “We actually go to nursing homes and volunteer,” said Valliere. “We go to the St. Joseph Diner and we help serve food there. There’s not much negativity that goes around here everybody’s nice, everyone’s respectful, we are always doing something.”

“It’s basically like my second home. All of these kids are like my brothers and sisters basically,” he added. As a junior in high school this marks the 7th year Valliere has been a member at the the Boys and Girls Clubs.

He said he comes to play basketball with his friends and get homework help instead of going home alone after school.

“If you don’t eat lunch at school, they have food here. They serve food every day,” says Valliere.

More than 100,000 meals were served at the Boys & Girls Club this year. For more information visit KLFY’s It’s All For The Kids.