Community pitches in to help revitalize NLV Boys, Girls Club

When North Las Vegas Councilman John Rhodes was a boy, he spent time after school at the Boys and Girls Club on Carey Avenue.

The kitchen that once served him lunch and dinner has hardly changed since it was built in the 1960s and still has the same appliances as when Rhodes attended -- or at least until this week when the kitchen received a complete overhaul, thanks to a community-wide effort.

Laura Coleman, host of the television show "North Las Vegas Now!" was taping a segment two months ago meant to feature the cooking classes at the center when she saw the condition of the kitchen.

Young people were learning how to make pancakes for a group, but instead of large mixing bowls they were using soup bowls to mix the batter. Only one burner was functioning on the stove, and cabinets were falling off their hinges.

Days later, the stove and refrigerator went out and cooking classes were put on hold.

"I looked around, and as I was walking out I said to the producer, 'This is a mess. We have to do something,' " Coleman said.

Talk turned to Rhodes and his experiences at the club when several organizations and businesses stepped in to help, including Home Depot, the North Las Vegas Rotary Club, the Southern Nevada Correctional Facility and Poker Palace casino.

Tuesday marked the second day of the face lift, which included new cabinets, sinks, appliances and a fresh coat of paint. In all, the donated materials exceeded more than $5,000. Eighteen Home Depot employees volunteered their time to complete the two-day project.

Jessica Gonzalez of the club's Family Resource Department said the center has "no budget whatsoever" for furnishings, leaving her to bring in her own cooking materials from home and borrowed from friends.

"Home Depot has gone over the top," Gonzalez said as the volunteers were working Tuesday. "We're just amazed at how great this looks."

Coleman said she hopes a sponsor will step in to continue the effort to repair the old center. Currently, it does not have a sponsor, as other Boys and Girls Clubs do around the valley.

As an added bonus, Pavestone Concrete with Home Depot donated $1,000 worth of paving stones and constructed landscape for the front of the building.

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