When classes end each weekday, some children are fortunate enough to have someone waiting for them at home after school. But not every child enjoys that privilege.

There are at least 8,000 young people in Northwest Indiana who don’t have a safe and healthy environment where they can spend time at the end of the school day. During the summer months when school is out, the situation is worse. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana work to bridge that gap.

And you can help from Monday, April 7, through Sunday, April 13, when Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana will be the beneficiary of Strack & Van Til’s Checkout Challenge Round Up. Customers across the Region can round up their purchase to the nearest dollar when shopping at their local Strack & Van Til store with those extra funds donated to the organization.

According to Director of Marketing and Communications Laura Weber, proceeds from the Round Up will help Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana defray operational expenses and support their programs that help children and teens learn to succeed in a safe, fun, nurturing environment. The clubs offer affordable after-school programs including homework assistance and mentoring and help instill the importance of a strong work ethic, teamwork, sportsmanship, healthy lifestyles, good character and citizenship. Club members often forge lasting friendships, and a high percentage graduate high school, which creates a path for their future as caring and responsible members of the community.

Annually, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana serve a diverse population of 8,000 young people — ages 5- 18 — at their 10 clubs and 11 Kidstop school sites. The kids come from a variety of backgrounds, with many facing challenges such as economic hardship, food insecurity, academic struggles and limited access to extracurricular enrichment. Many club members come from single-parent households or families where caregivers work multiple jobs, making after-school and summer programming essential for their development and well-being.

Weber notes recent upgrades and enhancements to various c;ubs include sensory rooms for neurodivergent children; an interactive music class — Lyricism 101 — offering kids a fun, creative outlet; and ongoing sports leagues, with upcoming dodgeball and flag football for all ages and abilities. Projects in the works are a new teaching kitchen and community cafe, a new John Will Anderson Gary Club being renovated in collaboration with Methodist Hospitals and YMCA and leadership/career exploration programs for middle and high school students that are planned for fall.

“That feel-good moment at a cash register when you click ‘yes’ to rounding up your bill may be quick, but the long-term impact shoppers collectively have on our Northwest Indiana kids is immense,” says Mike Jessen, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana. “Thank you, Strack & Van Til stores, staff and customers, for recognizing the importance of generosity, big or small, as we strive to make the world a better place for our children.”

Strack & Van Til continues its more than 95-year tradition of philanthropy by raising funds through the Checkout Challenge Round Up program to help organizations in the communities it servese throughout Northwest Indiana.

Strack & Van Til President Jeff Strack credits customer generosity and employee commitment for the success of the Checkout Challenge Round Ups

“Our stores, with the help of our employees, provide our customers with an outlet to give to some of their favorite local organizations,” he explains. “Our customers are the ones who give back to the community, and we are so grateful for them.”

Show your support for Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana by participating in Strack & Van Til’s Checkout Challenge Round Up.

For more information on Boys & Girls Clubs programs, to volunteer or to donate, visit bgcgreaternwi.org. To learn more about how Strack & Van Til gives back to the communities it serves, visit strackandvantil.com/company/community-involvement.