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DAY FOR KIDS
Event generates Boys & Girls members
top BG CLUB KIDSDAY3 9-23-13
Boys & Girls Club of Manteca 2013 Youth of the Year Malia Watson, left, plays laser tag with friends during Saturdays Day for Kids event. - photo by HIME ROMERO/The Bulletin

Ten kids knew a good thing when they saw it.

That’s how many signed up on the spot Saturday to join the Boys & Girls Club

A record 500 people — including 300 kids — took part in the third annual Day of Kids event conducted at the Charlie and Bobette Giles Memorial Park adjoining the Alameda Street clubhouse.

“We got a lot of new people coming buy,” said Boys & Girls staff member Mark McCool.

As many as two dozen indicated they are planning to stop by and join up in the coming weeks. And as long as they sign up by the end of September — next Tuesday — they will get a year’s membership for 50 percent off. The regular membership rate is $24.

Daily Manteca club attendance is up about 20 percent over last year for September with more than 100 kids using the facility, accessing programs, or just hanging out after school. After school attendance typically will start surpassing 150 as the weather changes. Summer attendance this year reached a record high of 256.

Overall membership has surpassed 1,500 kids.

The club is open during the school year from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Club programs include tutoring, martial arts, flag football, art, agriculture, other sports programs, a teen room, a games room and more. Smart Moves — a program aimed at re-enforcing good decisions — is also in place.

McCool noted the free event was made possible with the support of Spec Ops, Kohl’s Department Store, and Frito-Lay among other business concerns.

For more information on the Boys & Girls Club call 239-KIDS.