The Boys & Girls Club of Manteca-Lathrop opens today for the new school year after a week of annual clubhouse maintenance.

The  club that has for nearly 40 years provided a safe place for kids to avoid the streets has a membership of 1,800 youth that access two club locations throughout the year. Another 1,000 youth are served annually through community outreach events.

School year hours are 3:30 to 8 p.m. at the main site at 545 W. Alameda St. and 3 to 7 p.m. at the Lathrop School site. On school year holidays, the hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Karate lessons are starting back up while signups for the flag football league for fifth through eighth graders is underway. There is a newly painted teen center for 13 to 18 year-olds and a  dance program that has been added. 

The club offers homework assistance/tutoring, computers for doing school work, college readiness program, and various character building programs. It also offers a variety of recreation games, sports leagues, arts classes,  garden club, and simply a safe place to spend time with friends.

Annual membership is $60 per child for those who reside within the Manteca Unified School District. Scholarships are available for those that can’t afford the membership fee. The out-of-district membership fee is $250. membership is open to those who are between 6 and 18 and are in first through 12th grades.

For more information, call the club at 239-KIDS