Lodi Boys and Girls Club seeks support for new teen center

The Lodi Boys and Girls Club is asking for the community’s help to raise $30,000 to fund a new teen center.

The $30,000 would be used to provide six new computers, a printer hub, a surround sound system, a foosball table, a gaming system, cookware and dishes, boards games, a charging station and a pool stick holder in the new teen center.

The money would help purchase sectionals and couches, round tables and chairs, a bar counter or cafe style seating, oversized chairs, shelving for back packs, tables along the wall for computers, small tables, drop lighting over the pool table and bar stools for the counter.

If raised, the funds would also help to keep the teen center open an extra hour each day.

According to Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Edwin Cotton, the club is committed to serving all youth but at the moment the segment most in need is teens. He stressed the importance of keeping teens active and involved in the community. Cotton said the teen center will offer a safe place for recreation, help with homework and access to computers and the Internet.

“When teens have idle time, they are either going to do something negative or positive — we want to give them the opportunity to do something positive,” Cotton said.

At least 35 to 40 kids hang out at the teen center daily and Cotton hopes to increase those numbers to 50 to 60 teens a day. The former teen center could not accommodate more than 30 teens.

“If you’ve got 50 or 60 teens a day doing the programs and activities that you offer, there’s a less chance of those 50 or 60 teens getting into trouble,” Cotton said. “The hours between 3 and 7 p.m. is the highest crime rates among young people, so we want to make sure we keep them focused between those hours completing their homework, doing community service and doing whatever they can to better themselves.”

The teen center is opened five days a week from 3 to 6 p.m. and every other Friday is open a few hours later for teens to enjoy activities such as sports events, movies and field trips. The club invites different guest speakers and offers programs that allow teens to learn about different topics like robotics or computer coding, applying to colleges and managing money.

The club also provides help with homework and offers a reading club during the summer.

Cotton welcomes donations, from purchased items to money. Those wishing to donate can pick up a pledge card from the club or contact Cotton at 209334-2697.

In addition to receiving donations, the club hosts a crab feed, a black tie dinner, a golf tournament and a hall of fame dinner annually.