Boys & Girls Club celebrates Lights On Afterschool Day
Published 11:11 pm Friday, October 23, 2026
A room full of children and parents celebrated Lights On Afterschool on Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Sedalia Housing Authority with cake, singing, dancing and a special appearance by Mayor Traves Williams, who proclaimed Thursday Lights On Afterschool Day in Sedalia.
The event highlighted the importance of after-school programs and the safe, supportive environments they provide for children. The Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri joined programs nationwide in celebrating their impact on young people and families.
“Lights On Afterschool is a national event that we take part of,” said Tyler Hudson, director of operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri. “It’s just really highlighting what the importance of after-school programming is and the impact we have.”
The celebration brought together families, community members and local leaders, including Williams and representatives from the fire department.
The Boys & Girls Club program at the housing authority has operated for two years and continues to grow, Hudson said. Enrollment is approaching 50 children, with as many as 30 attending on a given day, up from about 10 daily participants when the program began.
“It’s really great to see our membership continues to grow here,” Hudson said. “We’re serving kids that really need us.”
Staff members help children with homework, provide healthy snacks and make time for outdoor exercise. The club also offers educational enrichment activities and introduces children to potential careers.
“We try to start them off early on a path for success,” Hudson said.
The program gives children a place to learn, play and build skills while their parents manage work and other responsibilities.
Thursday’s celebration put that mission into action, bringing families together to recognize a program that continues to reach more children and provide opportunities for growth beyond the school day.
Chris Howell can be reached at 660-530-0146.
