Club regulars Chelsea Willingham, James Willingham, Javier (A.J.) Galindo, Beto Salgado and, in front, Freddy Garcia were excited about their new 12-passenger van, and voiced their preference to go somewhere in it, instead of merely pose in front of it.... (Amber Walters)

The Big Bend Youth Club (now officially the Boys & Girls Club of Terlingua finally purchased a 12-passenger van that will be used to take club members on outings.

Since the inception of the club, it has been a primary goal to take the kids out and expose them to various other places; the club’s schedule for 2006 features “many trips for educational purposes, pure fun, or both,” says the club’s Executive Director and founder, Beth Garcia.

Funding came through a grant from the United Thank Offering of the Episcopal Church.

The United Thank Offering is a collective fund from Episcopalians all over the world. Started by women in the Episcopal Church, now parishioners all over the world participate in the tradition, by depositing coins in a little blue box to give thanks for something. At the end of a the year, the boxes are put on the altar during a special church service and all the money is sent to the United Thank Offering office in New York.

Out of the thankful hearts of Episcopalians everywhere comes a tremendous amount of money that funds worthwhile projects such as the van for the Boys & Girls Club of Terlingua. The UTO “has really been very generous with us [in South Brewster County],” commented Reverend Judith Burgess, noting that the thank offering also contributed $34,000 to provide furnishings to the Big Bend Library in Terlingua in its first year of operation.

The club extends many thanks to the local Big Bend Episcopal Mission, particularly The Reverends Judith Burgess and Elaine Ponton for bringing this grant to the attention of Executive Director Beth Garcia and encouraging her to write the grant. “Their help has been an intregal part of making the youth club a success,” said Garcia.

The club, located just off FM 170 in Terlingua, is open Tuesday-Friday from 3:30–8 pm, and typically hosts anywhere from 8-30 kids a day, from Terlingua, Study Butte, Terlingua ranch, Lajitas, and Big Bend National Park. After scrambling to make transportation arrangements for the kids for two consecutive summer camps, the staff is relieved to have a van dedicated to the club’s needs every day of the year.

“[The youth club] is something we’re really please to support and be a part of,” said Rev. Judith Burgess. “Our mission includes Alpine & Marfa as well as here; people in all those congregations are aware of and support the youth club. It’s something we look forward to supporting in the  future.”

The club’s directors are currently engaged in a vigorous campaign to garner donations and pledges for the club’s 2006 budget. For more information, call 432/371-2333, email garciabeth2003@yahoo.com, or write: BGCT, PO Box 421, Terlingua TX 79852.