SAN BENITO — Many activities are being offered by the Boys & Girls Club.
Right now, it’s in the middle of its summer program which runs until Aug. 16.
“We have soccer, we have basketball,” board member Liz Chavez said. “We serve breakfast and lunch, plus a snack.”
The club has partnered with the San Benito school district, which is paying for the breakfast and lunch, said Carlos Gomez, the new director.
The program includes arts and crafts, movies, and presentations by visiting speakers.
A speaker from the Texas A&M Nutrition Center gives presentations every Friday about healthy eating and even how to make nutritious snacks.
The club also partnered with the San Benito Housing Authority to hold the Health Fair 2016 on June 30.
“It was for anybody,” Gomez said. “We had different services.”
Those services included checking blood pressure and screening people for diabetes. Dental professionals were also there to provide information about dental hygiene. Representatives of IDEA Public Schools spoke to visitors about their campuses.
A representative of the San Benito Police Department is expected to give a presentation soon about safety.
Once school resumes, the club plans to have after-school programs, again through a partnership with the school district. Those programs will include tutorials.
“It’s to keep them off the street,” Gomez said.
He emphasized several times the importance of partnering. Some partnerships can be with individuals. A posting June 23 on the club’s Facebook page showed several smiling children of varying ages holding purple, green and blue balls of different sizes. One smiling girl held a very large one with pink polka dots.
“Thank you to Milo Esquivel for donating recreational equipment that the club kids needed,” says the posting. “We appreciate you and your commitment to us.”
The posting listed kickballs, volleyballs, hula-hoops, ping pong balls, basketball nets and play balls.
The club shows a vitality just in the manner of its board member and the activities being created. The Boys & Girls Club of San Benito Facebook page shows regular postings of pictures with brief descriptions of events.
With a new board, a fresh look, robust programs and the support of the community, residents may be able to count on a Boys & Girls Club where their children can study after school and enjoy a safe space.
