The first day of school in the San Diego Unified School District also meant it was back to the Boys & Girls Clubs in San Diego County.
In Logan Heights, the Oakes Boys & Girls Club was closed for 18 months.
“It’s just very exciting to be open again,” said branch manager Ricardo Sandoval. “It’s excitement. We’ve been anticipating this for a couple weeks, getting the facility ready to go.”
Sandoval admitted the pandemic was difficult for everyone.
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“For us as a staff, it’s just been overwhelming,” he said. “We anticipated it would be a short term and before we knew it, it’s been 18 months.”
Sandoval’s branch of the Boys & Girls Club started Monday with 40 children registered to attend after school Monday. He expected that number to increase well beyond a 100 once word got out the Club was open. Sandoval said the Club offers children a safe place to do their homework and play while parents finish work.
“It’s very important that the kids are somewhere safe and not just roaming the streets,” he said.
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Sandoval said only three Boys & Girls Clubs opened during the pandemic for any significant amount of time. He said the others either closed or operated activities on-line for their members.
