The Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada is hosting "Lights on After School" on Thursday, a nationwide event aimed at bringing awareness to the need for after-school programs.
Families are invited to attend from
3 to 6 p.m. at the club's new building, 1870 Russell Way. Food will not be served.
According to statistics from after
schoolalliance.com, 28 percent of Nevada's school-aged children are responsible for taking care of themselves after school. These children spend an average of 10 hours a week unsupervised after school.
Sixteen percent of Nevada's school-aged children participate in after-school programs.
Dan McLaughlin, program director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, said there will be family oriented games, information about the DARE program from Carson City Sheriff's Dare Officer Lisa Davis and information on the Community Counseling Center for Youth and Partnership Carson City.
District Attorney Neil Rombardo also will be in attendance, along with a representative from New York Life Insurance for its Child ID program that creates identification cards containing information to aid police should a child be abducted or lost.
For more information, call the club at 882-8820.