MACON, Ga. — The Boys and Girls Club of Central Georgia's Carl D. Thomas building has officially reopened after a recent break-in.
They partnered with Cox Communications to unveil a new media center to provide students with the right technology to advance their computer literacy skills.
Now, kids have access to a brand-new media center called the innovation lab, equipped with new computers, VR headsets and even 3D printers.
The Boys and Girls Club in South Macon serves about 60 students per day ages 5 to 18, and they say most of them come from underserved communities.
President and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Georgia Phillip Bryant talked about how necessary these resources are for the kids.
"This community and this facility is truly needed in the Bloomfield community," Bryant said. "A lot of the kids we serve are from single-parent households [and] may be limited income. So here at the Boys and Girls Club, we are affordable for everyone."
Public affairs manager of Cox Communications, Cam Johnson, also talked about what resources these students will now have access to.
"We got some virtual reality goggles and activities they can do, a 3D printer, new laptops where they can do not just homework but more coding and doing other hands-on activities," Johnson said.
Just under a month ago, this location was broken into and vandalized, leaving shattered glass and broken light fixtures. Howard High School junior Donald Williams talked about the impact seen afterward within the community.
"I was basically heartbroken because this is the club I started going to my first time. Seeing people come together and trying to help rebuild it basically makes me feel like I'm helping," Williams said.
Now their new Innovation Lab is up and running for the students during fall break and there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its success. They hope this new facility helps students explore their interest in the STEM field.
The Carl D. Thomas Building is located at 6022 Bloomfield Road.