Teen volunteers spruce up McNamara Youth Center

Leaders of local nonprofits and several youths broke out the drop cloths and buckets of white paint at the McNamara Youth Center on Monday, getting the building ready to host a variety of programs in the coming months.

About 13 high school youths were at the center Monday, volunteering their time to help bring the center back to life.

Monday’s activities came on the heels of last month’s decision by the Merced City Council to give a team of five nonprofits the keys to the center, where after-school programs for underprivileged youths will soon be offered. With the agreement, the city will put $24,000 into the building this year – about $16,000 for renovations and $7,500 for the year’s utilities.

The three-year contract to staff the building with volunteers was awarded to a coalition of nonprofits: Symple Equazion, Lifeline CDC, Mentoring Odd Jobs Organization, Potter’s Place and Merced Calvary Assembly of God, also called the Isaiah Project.

Kelly Turner, founder of Symple Equazion, said the center will fully open Jan. 3, 2015, although some events will be held in the center beginning next month. For example, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 6 there will be pictures taken with Santa Claus for $5 at the center.

Turner said she and other nonprofit leaders are excited about the opening of the center. “To be able to have a center where youth can come and spend their downtime is confirmation that we are moving in the right direction,” she said.

Turner added she’s “humbled that the city believes in our ability to bring some services to the youth.”

This story was originally published November 10, 2014 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Teen volunteers spruce up McNamara Youth Center."