Boys and Girls Club of Merced County accepting canned goods

The Boys & Girls Club of Merced County is holding a canned food drive for the needy through Dec. 20, which will end that day with a Christmas caroling session.

The club put out four drop boxes around the city of Merced to collect canned food from donors. To donate nonperishable food, drop boxes are found at:

▪  The Boys and Girls Club, 615 W. 15th St.

▪  Central Valley Community Bank, 3337 G St.

▪  Rabobank, 2000 M St.

▪  Aeropostale in Merced Mall, 851 W. Olive Ave.

On the final day of the drive, Dec. 20, members of the club and the public will join with church congregations for Christmas caroling and a sing-along inside the 15th Street club. The singing is planned from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

The Boys & Girls Club works with children year round to improve literacy, health, character, leadership and to reach other goals. Staff members have said the educational focus is primarily on the children from first through eighth grades, with high school students often taking on tutoring roles.

The city of Merced has worked with the Boys & Girls Club since it opened in 1994 by providing it a home, including its current site in the McCombs Youth Center. The city also contributes to its annual budget.

For more on the club or the canned food drive, call (209) 722-9922.

This story was originally published December 8, 2014 at 3:30 PM with the headline "Boys and Girls Club of Merced County accepting canned goods."