BendSearch.com: Community

Central Oregon's recent population boom over the last decade has had some negative side effects. Among the most alarming, is the increasing number of children without parental supervision after school. Locally, more than 10,000 children are now left alone between 2pm and 8pm. In the late 80's and early 90's, youth crime rates shot up dramatically in Central Oregon. Coincidentally, over 50% of all juvenile crimes nationwide occur within this same seemingly brief hour-span.

In 1994, twenty volunteers organized the Boys & Girls Club of Bend, Central Oregon's first Boy's & Girls Club. It was started to provide positive, consistent activities for youth during the "Crime Time" hours previously mentioned. There are now nine Boys & Girls Clubs in Central Oregon, covering three separate counties spread over more than 7,837 square miles. They touch the lives of  over 11,000 youth - 4,500 of which are members.