The Boys & Girls Club of McAllen is expanding services into south McAllen.

On Wednesday, the organization and the McAllen Independent School District signed off on the purchase of the James Bonham Elementary School campus property. 

The campus closed in 2021.

Boys & Girls Club of McAllen CEO Dalinda González Alcantar said the organization was excited about the expansion.

“At the end of the day, thousands of children still need our services, our resources,” Alcantar said. “Thousands of families in that area need all of us… and so it was really about the need — that's really what prompted this.”

The 13-acre property was purchased with $1 million in federal funds. It will provide necessary after-school services such as programs focused on mental health, academic success, arts and sports services.

“The reality is that the census showed us that there’s still pockets within this community — even within McAllen — that are economically disadvantaged,” Alcantar said.

This will be the Boys & Girls Club of McAllen’s third facility.

“I can tell you that the kids are going to have so much fun and benefit from having the Boys & Girls Club in their neighborhood, and it will keep them out of trouble,” McAllen ISD Superintendent Rene Gutierrez said.

The facility will be renovated and is set to open its doors by fall 2025.

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