The Manteca-Lathrop Boys & Girls Club Telethon - a Thanksgiving week tradition for 25 years - is taking place two weeks earlier this year.

It will take place Monday, Nov. 8, from 5 to 8 p.m., and Tuesday, Nov. 9, from 4:30 to 11 p.m. It will be carried live over Comcast Channel 97 as well as streamed live on the Internet.

The telethon is the major fundraiser for the club that provides a safe haven for 1,500 youth from ages 6 to 17. Since its inception, the telethon has raised in excess of $2 million over the course of 25 years. It also involves in excess of 300 people to stage from volunteers manning the phones and collecting pledges to those providing live on-air entertainment.

Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Charlie Halford noted the switch to an earlier date is in response to community changes. Manteca Unified schools in the last several years have scheduled the entire week off prompting many people to plan family vacations. Also a growing number of employers - including the City of Manteca and high-tech firms - are furloughing workers that week which in turn prompts many who have helped volunteer in the past to schedule other things.

Fred White of DeCristo Productions is working with the club to revamp both the silent and live auction to accommodate not only more bidders but to make it easier to bid at home using cell phones, computers, and land-line phones.

The telethon committee is starting to line-up groups and individuals to help man phones and collect pledges. That effort - often in securing $10 and $20 donations - typically accounts for the bulk of the $100,000-plus the telethon raises each year.

If you would like to help with the phones and pledge collecting contact Fire Chief Kirk Waters at 456-8300.

For those who wish to help secure auction items or help with other aspects of the telethon, contact the Boys & Girls Club at 239-KIDS.

The club has seen an increase in kids accessing programs while at the same time experiencing a drop in revenue. The Boys & Girls Club board has had to reduce staff costs. Even with reduced manpower, the club is working on ways to steer kids into making the right choices as well as provide things for them to do in a safe environment.

A number of club upgrades have taken place thanks to a grant from Lowe’s Home Improvement including an expanded computer lab, remodeled teen room, new gym lighting. improved exterior lighting, and remodeled bathrooms.

Several new programs are being added including a free music program using guitars being launched with the help of Manteca-based music instructors using guitars.