Boys & Girls Club remodels Porterville facility

Double the enrollment means double the space at the Porterville Boys & Girls Club.

The time has come to accommodate the 80 children who hang out at 344 E. Morton Ave. Fitting their needs means remodeling the building they hang out in: adding a new teen room, a bigger front desk, snack bar, and most importantly to the kids, a larger game room and computer room.

“Games, more games!” four little boys shouted in response to a question about what they were looking forward to.

Since the fall, Boys & Girls Club staff members have raised the $50,000 needed to expand — a project that has been on the mind of the community since the site first opened in October 2007.

Tearing down walls and building new ones began in mid-June. The plan is to finish the 4,100 square feet project on Oct. 15.

“That’s our wish list,” Unit Director Mat Keel said.

The construction has not hindered regular daytime activities as a big grass area surrounds the front of the structure and the First United Methodist Church has offered up its large hall.

When it opened two years ago, the Porterville location only had two rooms.

Aside from playing pool and Wii, Logan Cassidy, 10, of Porterville, is anxiously anticipating the new computer room and buying treats from the snack bar.

“As long as [the snacks] have sugar,” he said.

The expansion locally is part of development at several other Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias sites.

“We’re growing like crazy,” Charles Hunly, facilities manger for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias, said.

In spite of all the development, the Porterville location needs more supplies. Arts and crafts, books, sports equipment and snacks, among others, are all welcome. For more information on how to help, call 793-2511.

The Boys and Girls Club is open for 6- to 18-year-olds from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the summer, and 2 to 6 p.m. during the school year.

-- Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1045, or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.