Christmas came early Wednesday to the children at the Evans Park Unit of the Santa Maria Boys and Girls Club when their club received $20,000 worth of new equipment from Greka Energy.

The equipment includes 10 new computers and flat-screen monitors, a new projector, two new pool tables, a bumper-pool table, ping pong table, and air hockey and foosball games.

Many of the 100 club members got their hands on the new gear Wednesday afternoon.

“It obviously means so much to the kids. They don’t often get new gifts, so I know they are going to love it,” said Keystone Club president Fabiola Rodriguez.

The equipment replaces items the club inherited from other organizations.

Randeep and Nadia Grewal, owners of Greka Energy, worked with the unit’s Keystone Club to acquire the new equipment that was unveiled to the children Wednesday afternoon. Randeep Grewal said the donation fit perfectly into his company’s and his family’s philosophy.

“As a family, we celebrate the children. That’s our focus. It’s got to be for the kids,” Randeep said. “Nadia had a chance to come here and find out what they needed. That was the idea, to give them something to come to.”

Nadia Grewal worked with the unit’s Keystone Club, which is for students ages 13 to 16, to come up with a wish list. The club came up with a cost estimate of around $18,000 for the new equipment, and the Grewals wrote a check for $20,000.

Donna Cross, known as the “godmother” of the unit, said it has been known as the “second hand” club. She credited the Keystone Club and Nadia Grewal for working together on the project.

The Evans Park Unit has a long relationship with Greka Energy, according to unit director Eddie Galarza, who advises the Keystone Club. Galarza and the club has cooked and served at Greka Energy barbecues for the last 10 years.

In return, Greka has provided generous cash sponsorships to the club’s Christmas program each year. This year, Christmas came early.

On Wednesday, Galarza and the Grewals shared their love for the kids.

“This is a tough neighborhood,” Galarza said. “It’s all for the kids, though. Everything we do is for the kids.”

Boys and Grils Club at Santa Maria Valley.

Since opening its doors in 1966, over 40,000 kids from the Santa Maria Valley have passed through our doors and taken part in a wide variety of programs and services offered at the Club. Its Mission is to provide programs for youth from all backgrounds that will teach them the values of life and make them better citizens of the community.

For More information on Santa Maria Boys and Girls Club, please visit their website at www.bgcsmv.org.

For more information on Greka, please visit the company website at www.greka.com

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