'Your Club, Your Kids:' Campaign Underway to Repair Murrieta Boys & Girls Club

A corroding foundation, a rusted handrail, poor drainage and broken ceiling tiles.

These are just some of the items on a repair list for the Boys & Girls Club in Murrieta.

An average of 115 youth between 6 and 18 years old spend a portion of their day at the clubhouse, which is one of four operated by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Riverside County. For 16 years, staff has mentored youth in the modular building tucked in a corner of California Oaks Sports Park. It serves as a place for before- and after-school care, as well as a day camp when kids are not in school.

Time has taken its toll, according to Maryann Edwards, CEO and president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Riverside County.

In an effort to bring the building up to par, Edwards and other representatives of the nonprofit organization kicked off the campaign titled, "Spring Into Renovation" Thursday at Murrieta City Hall. The goal is to collect $100,000 in donations during the month of April.

Mayor Rick Gibbs and Councilman Randon Lane voiced their support of the effort in front of a roomful of Murrieta businesspeople who had been invited to the kickoff.

"Let's cut to the chase, the Boys & Girls Club does phenomenal work," said Gibbs.

It keeps kids off the streets and in a productive environment, they said.

Watch the video to the right to see clips of Thursday's kickoff.

The organization is funded by grants and donations. Income-qualified families are charged $37 a week for before- and after-school care as well as transportation to and from school; otherwise weekly tuition is $67. Families who do not use the transportation services can take advantage of the after-school care for $25 a year.

"Through the recession the need grew and donations shrank," Edwards said. "...We actually took in more kids.

"It's your club Murrieta, and your kids."

Businesses such as The Mill Restaurant in Historic Downtown Murrieta and RJ's Sizzlin' Steer have already agreed to host fund-raising events. The Mill will hold its on April 16.

The Murrieta Chamber of Commerce has also agreed to help spread the word about the cause.

Some in the audience questioned whether the building should be torn down and replaced with a newer modular.

Edwards said while that would be nice, their immediate and "very ambitious" goal was to bring in the $100,000 needed for repairs.

City land has been donated for a new Boys & Girls Club at the long-planned Second Avenue Park near Historic Downtown, but that could be many years down the road.

Edwards said even then, the nonprofit would likely keep operating its original Murrieta facility as a second location.

Those interested in learning more can visit Bgcswc.org.