45th Anniversary
It’s Not Work, It’s A Lifestyle
Tis Gaston has been working at Boys and Girls Country for 40 years! When she
started, the organization was known as Boys Country. She says, “In 1976, I was a
student at Sam Houston State University seeking an internship to fulfill a course
requirement for graduation. My professor said, ‘Here’s a program, Boys
Country, never heard of it; it’s in Hockley. Never heard of that either, but they are
asking for an intern so go check it out.’ I did and little did I know that
internship would turn into my life’s work!”
While many see their employment
as just a job, Tis says it’s more of a
lifestyle when you work in a 24-hour
residential care program. “I remember years ago doing such a variety of
things, including helping kids gather
eggs when we had the chicken
house; driving Ms. Rose, the cook,
home to Waller every evening;
picking up the kids who stayed
after school for athletics; completing paperwork for the school
lunch program; and many, many
late night emergency room runs!”
exclaims Tis.
“Since I’ve worked here for so long,” she says, “I know many of the kids who
used to live here. I keep in touch with several of them, and I love to hear how
well they are doing as adults, in a career or raising their family. No matter how
long ago someone might have lived here, many still see this place as their ‘home
base.’ I get requests all the time from former students for documents, photographs or keepsakes they collected while in school. I even get requests for recipes for dishes they remember as Boys and Girls Country standards.”
Boys and Girls Country is a special
place where kids’ lives are being
changed. “Spend any length of time
here,” says Tis, “and you will see
amazing things from kids, from the
boy who never played a sport make
his first touchdown to seeing kids
progress from special education
classes to honor students and
graduating from college.”
Thank you Tis for your dedication to
the kids at Boys and Girls Country!
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Boys and Girls Country News | Summer 2016