Merced club plans Day for Kids

The Boys & Girls Club of Merced County is gearing up to celebrate its annual Day for Kids event meant to highlight the needs of children and teens in the community, as well as the role mentors play in their lives.

The free event is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the McCombs Youth Center, 615 W. 15th St. It includes carnival games, a photo booth, inflatable structures and food, organizers said.

Day for Kids encourages adults to spend meaningful time with young people and engage in fun and active play. This year’s event is expected to draw 600 to 800 parents and kids, according to organizers.

“At Boys & Girls Club of Merced, we change the opportunity equation for kids in our community, enabling them to achieve a great future,” Executive Director Tony Slaton said. “Day for Kids is a fun way for not only adults to relive their childhood, but for kids to have fun and foster stronger relationships with caring mentors.”

The event is celebrated by clubs across the country and aims to help improve the lives of underprivileged children, according to a news release. About 30 percent of children in Merced County are living in communities of concentrated poverty, which is higher than the state average, according to a report last year from the Children Now organization.

Organizers for the Merced County club noted the event also is designed to encourage children to play while being physically active as part of a healthy lifestyle. According to the Merced County Public Health Department, 40.9 percent of the children in the city are overweight, and three out of four adults in the county are obese.

A website created by The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, www.dayforkids.org, provides tools, resources and tips to support interactions between adults and young people.

For more information, call the club at 209-722-9922 or visit www.bgcmerced.org.

This story was originally published September 14, 2015 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Merced club plans Day for Kids."