Arrival
Side door off the parking lot. A leader meets each new kid at the door.
Duffel Bag Club · ages 6–12
For the kids who count the days
Every Thursday after school, kids with a parent away meet other kids who know what it's like. There is a snack, a project and a big map on the wall.
The map has a pin for every parent who is away. Kids move their own pin.
Thursdays, 4:30–6:00 PM
What happens on a Thursday
Kids arrive from the school bus at 4:15. Snack first, then a project: video cards for Mom or Dad, letters, care boxes, or a calendar chain that loses a link every day.
Mr. Tomás closes with ten minutes of talk time. Kids can say what's hard, or just say what they had for lunch.
- Pickup from Westover and Douglas Byrd middle by van
- Snack and supper-to-go for the family
- Trained leaders, two adults in every room
First Thursday
What your child can expect
Parents are welcome to stay for the first visit.
Snack
Fruit, crackers and something with chocolate. Allergies taken seriously.
The map
New kids put a pin on the map for where their parent is, if they know.
Talk time
Ten minutes at the end. Nobody has to speak.
Thursday, minute by minute
Bus and van arrive
Kids sign in with a leader.
Snack
Around the long table.
Project
Video cards, letters or the countdown chain.
Talk time
Short, voluntary, kind.
Pickup
Sharp, with a supper-to-go for the family.
From a parent
My daughter used to dread Thursdays because that was the day her dad left. Now Thursday is club day, and she has her own pin on the map.
For parents
Before you sign up
Does my child have to have a parent deployed?
A parent away for deployment, a long school or field training, or recently returned. Siblings are welcome too.
Do you pick up from school?
Our van picks up from Westover and Douglas Byrd middle schools and two elementary schools on Raeford Road. Ask us about yours.
Is it religious?
We pray before snack and the leaders are from local churches. Kids of every faith or none are welcome.
My son needs a quiet space sometimes. Is that OK?
Yes. The building is step-free and there is a quiet room off the kids' room with beanbags and headphones. Tell Mr. Tomás on the first day and he'll show your son where it is.