Isaac Nunez, 11, spikes the ball over a volleyball net while community aid Lilia Lomeli-Gil plays a board game with Brian Palacios, 7, (to her left) and Moises Vazquez, 14..Behind them Emmanuel Covarruvias, 10, back left, plays foosball with Ricardo Dellgado, 10 at the Grayson Community Center on Monday, July 30.The boys were participating in the P.A.L. program , a program through the sheriff's department that aims to keep kids off the streets by providing them with recreational activity. The program has suffered funding cuts in the past year.
Lisa James / Patterson Irrigator
Emmanuel Covarruvias, 10, reacts to a play while playing volleyball with Kevin Cruz, 9, right, and Adrian Palacios, 11, at the Grayson Community Center on Monday, July 30.
Lisa James / Patterson Irrigator
Adrian Palacios, 11, plays a board game with PAL community aid Lilia Gomeli-Gil at the Grayson Community Center on Monday, July 30, 2012.
Lisa James / Patterson Irrigator
Isaac Nunez, 11, front and teammates Ricardo Dellgado, 10, left and Moises Vazquez, 14, anticipate the ball while playing volleyball at the Grayson Community Center on Monday, July 30.
Lisa James / Patterson Irrigator
Adrian Palacios, 11, dives for the beach ball while Kevin Cruz, 9, clears the way while playing volleyball at the Grayson Community Center on Monday, July 30.
Lisa James / Patterson Irrigator
Kevin Cruz, 9, right, and Isaac Nunez, 11, wait for the beach ball to fall on their side while playing volleyball at the Grayson Community Center on Monday, July 30.
Lisa James / Patterson Irrigator
Isaac Nunez, 11, spikes the ball over a volleyball net while Brian Palacios, 7, looks on and Emmanuel Covarruvias, 10, back left, plays foosball with Ricardo Dellgado, 10 at the Grayson Community Center on Monday, July 30, 2012.
Lisa James / Patterson Irrigator
Community aide Lilia Lomeli-Gil, who leads the PAL program at the Grayson Community Center, plays a board game with Kevin Cruz, 9, left, Brian Palacios, 7, to her right, Adrian Palacios, 11, center, Emmanuel Covarruvias, 10, and Moises Vazquez, 14, far left, on Monday, July 30.
Aspects of the program have been scaled back since funds were cut leaving communities to seek funds elsewhere. As of March 1, Lomeli-Gil, who has been the Grayson PAL program community aide since it started in 2005 and their only paid worker, is no longer paid by PAL but by BHRS of Stanislaus County. On most days Lomeli-Gil works with 35 children with the help of 1 or 2 volunteers.
Lisa James / Patterson Irrigator
Brian Palacios, 7, is congratulated by Kevin Cruz, 9, after winning a board game he was playing for the first time at the Grayson Community Center on Monday, July 30.
Lisa James / Patterson Irrigator
Brian Palacios, 7, puts away a board game he was playing for the first time after he won, while Ricardo Dellgado, 10, plays volleyball at the Grayson Community Center on Monday, July 30.
Lisa James / Patterson Irrigator
The Community Brunch will be catered by representatives of five area youth charities, including P.A.L., that will compete for supporters’ favor. The challenge is planned for Sept. 9, a Sunday, and is the brainchild of former Modesto restaurant owner Dan Costa, who founded Mallard’s and later the Velvet Creamery.
“We’ve done so many different fundraising programs over the years, we wanted to try something else,” said Costa, who now owns 5.11 Tactical, a worldwide police, fire and EMS uniform company. “This takes multiple charities and has them competing and ultimately makes them sharper.”
Representatives from Stanislaus County Police Activities League, The First Tee, Salvation Army, Promise Scholars and the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County will prepare high-class brunch food from scratch, selling tickets and supplying meals and entertainment.
Of the five, the P.A.L. program most directly benefits the West Side, according to Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Deputy Bret Silveira, who doubles as the deputy director of Stanislaus P.A.L.
A Grayson after-school program is a prime example, he said. The program’s funding was yanked by the county Board of Supervisors because of budget cuts, but P.A.L. has provided volunteers, staff members and some supplies to keep it going at the town’s United Community Center.
The after-school program starts at noon and goes until 6 p.m. during the summer and runs from 2 to 6 p.m. during the school year, keeping children off the streets, out of trouble and well fed during weekday afternoons, Silveira said.
“Our goal is to help fund programs like that until we see some improvement in the budget and they receive more funding again,” Silveira said.
P.A.L. also helps out with a Westley after-school program and one in east Patterson at the offices of the Stanislaus County Housing Authority.
Silveira said P.A.L. hopes to raise $50,000 through the brunch, where volunteers will serve omelets made to order. Costa, a chef, and Chef Leroy Walker of Turlock’s Bistro 234 are also volunteering. Tickets will cost $50 each.
Each of the five charities is responsible for its own sponsorships, chef, specialty, décor and entertainment.
For information: Bret Silveira, 529-9121; or www.thecommunitybrunch.com.
•Nick Rappley can be reached at 892-6187, ext. 31, or nick@pattersonirrigator.com.
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