Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart

"Our family did not have a good experience at this location. My kids attended from 2019 to 2022. While it was good for about the first year, with some minor issues then, it quickly became a nightmare for us. My daughter refused to return and I ended up pulling my sons out due to the constant harassment of them by a female staff member. It's a very sad situation, but it is the reality our family dealt with here. I reported her multiple negative actions to three different facility managers over a span of a few years and even other staff, and nothing was ever done - it only got worse and worse. Every time she wasn't held to account, she got nastier to my kids and myself, and I've witnessed her being rude and nasty to other kids and parents. It was made clear to me recently nothing ever would be done by upper management about this person. If the mission of Boys and Girls Club is to support the growth of children, why do they continue to employ someone who only tears down kids and parents she hates? This person has also failed at basic functions of their job and harassed my kids over it (i.e. submitting multiple sets of paperwork she kept losing; when we paid a fee and she issued a receipt and then claimed she never got it and threatened to kick my kids out of club; she made threats to call the police or DCS on us directly to my kids - and told them to tell me - for things she didn't like - such as my son walking home a few blocks in 65 degree weather because I was working...something he'd done for two years with no issue; etc.). Those examples are a SMALL fraction of things she did and harassed my kids or myself about. This went from once or twice a week to almost daily harassing my kids about something - and they'd tell me every time, sometimes crying about it. What this woman put my kids and our family through is unacceptable and the fact she was never held to account is horrid. I'd withheld this review until now, hoping something would be done, but after hearing from the area manager recently, I feel as if they chose to support an evil woman and her actions over my kids. Our families' issues were never taken seriously and we were made to feel like we were the issue, even as recently as this week. They will not listen to the truth of what happened to us, and simply do not care about it. We've gone our separate ways, and this review is simply me sharing some of our family's story. I'm not looking for anything from them, nor do I want anything. I just needed to share so parents can be aware that not every story is a good one and you should be cautious with any staff. Now my kids are forced to seek other things to do in a town that really has little for kids/teens to do at all, let alone things that are supposed to help them grow. Since they've left there, they've not only grown far more as people, but they also don't have the extra anxiety this woman gave them daily and they have vastly improved since in that regard, even according to their doctors. That right there tells you all you need to know. For those wanting to consider this club, by all means, if you feel it is right for you and your family do so, give it a shot. But I would encourage you to ALWAYS make sure you keep records of everything like we did, especially being a low income family who have parents that work a lot. Not everyone there is bad. In fact the guy running the location now, Mike, is a good person with the right goals in mind. He can be trusted fully. I can't speak toother staff, as many have left or been let go, but Mike is good and will do his best to do right by your kids. However, it is one of his main staff and upper management that do not care at all, and their attitude towards my family says all I need to know. I hope if you choose to take your kids there that you fare better than mine did. Just be cautious in your interactions with staff, as some don't have your best interest in mind - they only have their own, personal opinions in mind and will trample you and your kids if they see fit. Wish it was different..."

"Great facility and afterschool program"