![Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg gifted e-readers to promote literacy](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/tgjxWahoY49lPhdqojYSK9Hhuro=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/12-21-2020/t_9ac90d9e303d453e9318d437419975b3_name_image.jpg)
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg gifted e-readers to promote literacy
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ More than 100 local kids will benefit from a special gift this holiday season. Members of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg unwrapped Kindle E-readers Monday. And the reason why the number has spiked even more is because of COVID-19. Some are going part time, and those that are home may not have that support system that all other kids have,โ said Dhomonique Ricks Murphy, founder of Readers2Leaders. The kids will also be able to go online to track how many books they read and what they learned.
![Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg planning Thanksgiving feast despite pandemic](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/gsUOLoWG1b84KzzzTLnfN0S_s0g=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/11-18-2020/t_20e4273e6164466d87d916cd6acd6a05_name_image.jpg)
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg planning Thanksgiving feast despite pandemic
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg is still planning a Thanksgiving feast despite the pandemic. Mark Sheehan, the executive director, says they usually host upwards of 200 children and family members, but this yearโs event will be scaled back to about 70 kids. โWe are going to feed the kids for Thanksgiving, but weโll do it spread out throughout the club, following social distance protocol,โ Sheehan said. The organization also holds an awards ceremony during the annual feast. That will still take place, but parents and community members are invited to watch it on Facebook Live.
![Millions of dollars coming to help local students](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/LajT10MN-jteUEChgTLumLHf1pI=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/V6X4RBYX2ZGAPMA5VYNMARYREU.jpg)
Millions of dollars coming to help local students
ROANOKE, Va. โ The Virginia Department of Education is awarding 51 grants to fund 21st Century Community Learning Centers in communities across the commonwealth. Community learning centers operate before and after school, during school breaks, Saturdays, and during summer vacation. Community learning centers play a key role in our efforts to promote equity and improve outcomes for vulnerable students.โMillions of dollars is coming to our region of Virginia. Homework assistance will also be providedAll students receive a supper meal (provided through CACFP grant)All students are provided with transportationPatrick Henry Community College is getting $692,143 to help Henry County and Martinsville students. The Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Virginia also got $743,444 a year to help Franklin and Montgomery County students.
![Gatlinburg SkyBridge is now decked out for Christmas](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/D9uvxjF2BhZn0cptS99aXNhxr64=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/JC4K22CXBVHOTD55PR62ZYZX3U.jpg)
Gatlinburg SkyBridge is now decked out for Christmas
GATLINBURG, Tenn. โ If youโre heading down to Gatlinburg, youโll now be able to enjoy Christmas lights at the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. Starting Monday, the โLights Over Gatlinburgโ Winter Lights Spectacular at the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park is on display. You can enjoy the gorgeous decorations across the SkyBridge. Through Dec. 15, if you bring a new, packaged toy to the SkyLift Park, youโll receive $4 off your admission ticket when purchasing at the ticket window. โLights Over Gatlinburgโ runs from Monday through Jan. 31.
![Wake the World brings fun in the sun to kids at Smith Mountain Lake](https://media.wsls.com/photo/2019/07/26/Wake_the_World_event_at_Smith_Mountain_Lake_1564186257080_22132192_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
Wake the World brings fun in the sun to kids at Smith Mountain Lake
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. - Around 100 kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Virginia hit the water Friday to enjoy a day of surfing and water skiing, among other activituies, on Smith Mountain Lake. It's all thanks to Wake the World, a nonprofit that brings water sports to kids who otherwise may not get to experience them. Earlier this year, the organization spent a day at the lake giving kids with disabilities the opportunity, capturing special moments. Smith Mountain Lake boat owners, like John Dombrosky, used their boats Friday to take kids around the lake. He learned of Wake the World when he was working at a marina in North Carolina, so when he started working at Smith Mountain Lake a few years ago he wanted to have some events there.