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Boys & Girls Clubs Become 'Second Home' For Many Families

CBS4's Care 4 Colorado Toy Collection is Thursday, December 15, from 4:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the King Soopers at Colorado and Yale. The toys go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. CBS4, KBCO, and KOA staff members will be on hand all day to collect toy donations.

By Libby Smith

DENVER (CBS4) Many families come to rely on the Boys & Girls Club as if it were a second home. Some evenings, when she's not working, Liliana helps serve meals at the Wilfley Club. She's a single mother, and her four children have been club members for 5 years.

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"They like coming here because they have other friends and they enjoy doing stuff," Liliana told CBS4.

Her children enjoy the art room, homework help, and sports. They range in age from 9 to 14, so each appreciates the club for different reasons.

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"There's teachers that really help me with my homework a lot," said Laura, who is 14-years-old.

"With my homework, and try to calm me down," said Matthew, who is 9-years-old.

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"They do new activities that we never learned before," said Joseph, who is 11-years-old.

LINK: Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver

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Liliana may rely on the club the most, as she struggles to keep her children moving forward on a good path.

"They help me emotionally, financially, and the holidays. They're there for me," Liliana said of the staff at Wilfley.

The holidays are particularly hard on Liliana's budget. She can't afford to get toys for her children.

"It's like really tough because being a single mom, having four kids, and then …so the bills and everything adds up," Liliana explained.

Her kids know all too well what it feels like to get left out of the holidays.

"It's kind of sad. It's just sad seeing their reaction to getting nothing," Laura said.

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"Because you'll be sad, and they'll feel like they're left out," said Lee, who is 12-years-old.

"Kids that like stuff get it. And kids that don't are really sad because they know there is nobody out there that will give them something," Matthew said.

Libby Smith is a Special Projects Producer at CBS4. If you have a story you'd like to tell CBS4 about, call 303-863-TIPS (8477) or visit the News Tips section.

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