CAIRO — When the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club first opened its doors back in 2009, it only served a few dozen children. Ten years later, the club is so large that it can barely fit everyone inside.

Over the past decade, the Boys & Girls Club has done a good job of integrating itself into the community, said club director Stephen Francis. The club now serves more than 120 children daily, with members representing every school in the county.

That means that most days, with staff included, the Boys & Girls Club building at Holder Park can have more than 140 occupants. With the structure only having a maximum capacity of 150 people, that’s beginning to pose a problem.

With more than 200 club members enrolled for 2019, Francis said he even has to sometimes turn kids away and place them on a waiting list.

The one thing the club director said he would like to see in the future is a bigger space for kids.

“A bigger building would be heaven-sent because then we could serve more kids,” Francis said. “We have all of these great things going on, but space-wise, we’re limited.”

When Francis first arrived back in 2014, things weren’t this busy. He said he never heard the club being discussed around town back then, and residents barely seemed to know it existed.

A heavy schedule of programs and fundraisers around the community have helped change that perception. Francis said locals are now seeing the dividends of the club’s work.

“There was a gap there between club and community,” he said. “I think we’ve done a good job of bridging that gap.”

This year’s accomplishments have included cementing a new relationship with the Atlanta Braves and hosting a Black History Month program at Washington Middle School. Francis also noted successful poker run and 5k events.

Charles Renaud, one of the club’s founding board members, said a large part of their growth is attributable to Francis himself, who has a natural talent at promoting a positive message.

“You’ve got to be able, at any point, to stand up and speak about the club and the differences we’re making and the needs we have,” Renaud said. “I think Stephen has done a really good job at that.”

Changing the club’s name to honor hometown hero Jackie Robinson back in 2013 also helped.

“That gave us the opportunity to plead our case on a much wider scale,” Renaud said. “If this club, with that name, was located in a major metropolitan area it would be a lot easier to raise funds.”

Alongside the club’s own growth, Francis said Grady County has done a better job of taking ownership of the club.

Last week’s Diamond Affair fundraiser dinner had more than 300 supporters from across the community fill up the Grady Cultural Center to hear about the Boys & Girls Club’s accomplishments over the past decade.

Francis spoke at the event about the integrated relationship between the club and the community and how it makes a positive impact in children’s lives.

“Kids just need an opportunity,” he said. “The support of all of these people at the Diamond Affair creates opportunities at the Boys & Girls Club.”