To the editor:#

"Really? There's no Boys and Girls Club in the area? But how can that be?" Brace yourself; this is indeed going to be that cliche letter to the editor that proclaims: "The children, my God, think about the children."

With full disclosure, I should mention that I work everyday at a local middle school as a social work intern with the adjustment counselor there. I have counseling sessions with youngsters that are part of a school that prides itself on fostering community. All day themes of trust, safety and togetherness are embedded in the curriculum. They learn the value and strength that comes through collaboration and approaching the world in a collective manner. These seem like similar values that community centers across the nation share, if you ask me.

Yet, when they leave school I often see students walking home alone. Many of the students I meet with come from lower-income families and the majority of these kids come from troubled backgrounds. They arrive home to empty apartments. For them, the community ends at 2:30 p.m. with the school day. And yet, they are incredibly resilient. What an opportunity an organization like the Boys and Girls club would be as a means to channel that type of strength.

My point is that this area, the Pioneer Valley - the "Happy Valley" - is as ripe a place as it gets for an organization like the Boys and Girls club. Surrounded by five colleges with young adults eager to participate, undergrads can serve as mentors to youngsters. In a time when funding for education is being decimated, it's important for us to continue to fight for the livelihood our children. We must advocate for what kids need and deserve to experience. Why isn't there a Boys and Girls Club in the area?

Malcolm Pradia

Sunderland