Good news: If you haven’t yet donated to the Let’s Play Ball drive but would like to do so — you have some extra time.

To make sure we collect as many donations as possible for both the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach and the Los Angeles Harbor, we have decided to extend the deadline for another two weeks.

“We wanted to give last-minute shoppers more time to donate sports balls or money so we can help more of our members,” said Don Rodriguez, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach. “We are grateful for everyone who has supported the campaign so far.

“We know this year has been challenging for many,” he added,”and that makes every donation even more meaningful.”

The annual Let’s Play Ball Drive is sponsored by the Press Telegram and Daily Breeze — as well as their respective weekly sister publications, the Grunion Gazette and The Beach Reporter — in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of both Long Beach and the LA Harbor.

The goal this year is to provide at least 5,000 balls combined — or 2,500 to each organization. So far, we’ve collected 1,095 balls for the Long Beach clubs and 537 for the Harbor area clubs, though Christina Choy, the director of marketing and communications for the latter organization said some people were expected to do a drop-off soon.

“It’s that time of year again when we want to make sure we can gather every last sports ball we can muster for local kids,” said Tom Bray, senior editor of the Los Angeles County publications for the Southern California News Group, including the P-T and the Breeze. “Our readers always come through for those kids, and I’m confident they will again this year. They just need a little more time.”

To that end, the deadline has been extended from Monday, Dec. 15, to Dec. 28.

In Long Beach, an anonymous donor has offered  to donate $10,000 on the condition that Press-Telegram and Grunion readers match it with $10,000.

“We hope to make the matching $10,000,” Rodriguez said, “and we have received good support so far, but we need to dig a little deeper to meet the matching donation.”

And in case you’re wondering, these balls — whether for basketball, football, soccer or other sports — are crucial.

Sports activities are great for team building and keep kids off the streets, contributing to their health, Rodriguez said.

“Reaching our goal this year,” he said, “plays a crucial role in ensuring that our kids will continue to benefit from a rich and vibrant experience.”

Rodriguez thanked John Morris, owner of the Boathouse on the Bay restaurant, for his support at his annual Toys and Balls Drive on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

“John is such a strong supporter of kids,” Rodriguez said. “It was great seeing his customers dropping off balls with toys.”

Rodriguez also encouraged donors to visit Big 5 Sporting Goods, which is once again participating in the ball drive. Certain Big 5 locations in Long Beach and the South Bay will provide a 25% discount for any regularly priced sports balls that folks buy to donate to the Let’s Play Ball campaign.

There are two ways you can get new sports balls to the Boys & Girls Clubs: First, by dropping them off in person at the various locations listed below. Second, by using your credit card online, with instructions also listed below.

Kids are gleeful about donors who are dropping balls off at the clubs, Rodriguez said.

One youngster, 8-year-old Nathan, said this after a woman dropped off soccer balls at one of the clubs:

“When the lady gave me the balls, she said they were just for me to play with,” Nathan said, according to Rodriguez. “I felt so special, I started to cry. It was like a big, happy surprise.  Now, every time I kick those balls, I will think about how nice people are and how much fun I can have because of them. Thank you, everyone!”

And we thank you in advance for your support helping kids like Nathan — and so many others during this holiday season.

Let’s Play Ball

The Let’s Play Ball campaign benefits both the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the LA Harbor. Here’s where you can donate.

Long Beach area:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach’s main office, 3635 Long Beach Blvd., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Big 5 Sporting Goods: 4780 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, and 5247 Lakewood Blvd., Lakewood, during store hours. Big 5 will provide 25% off any regularly priced sports balls, except golf balls and tennis balls, that customers buy to donate to the Play Ball campaign.
Phil Trani’s Restaurant, 3490 Long Beach Blvd.
Boathouse on the Bay Restaurant, 190 Marina Drive, Long Beach.
First Bank locations: 4040 Atlantic Ave., Bixby Knolls; 5195 Lakewood Blvd., Lakewood; 6200 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach.
9Round Kickbox & Fitness Center, 6502 E. Spring St.
Watch Me! Sports Bar, 6527 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach.

You can also donate money or purchase balls or other items off the Long Beach clubs’ Amazon wish list. To do so, click on bgclub.org/Joy. For more information, email Kari Cho, vice president of marketing and development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach, at karic@bgclublb.org, or or call 562-595-5945.

South Bay:

Boys & Girls Clubs of L.A. Harbor locations: 1200 S. Cabrillo Ave., San Pedro (send Amazon orders to this address); 100 W. Fifth St., Port of LA; 1444 W. Q St., Wilmington; 1220 W. 256th St., Harbor City, and 802 W. Gardena Blvd., Harbor Gateway.
Big 5 Sporting Goods: 529 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro; 2745 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance; 17542 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, and 2515 E. El Segundo Blvd., El Segundo. Big 5 will provide 25% off any regularly priced sports ball, except golf balls and tennis balls, that customers buy to donate to the Play Ball campaign.
First Bank locations: 21503 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, and 1644 W. Redondo Beach Blvd., Gardena.

One final note: We’re always looking for more drop-off locations, whether a sports bar, a restaurant or even a retail store. To become a drop-off location, email me at rarchbold@scng.com and Coastal Cities Editor Chris Haire at chaire@scng.com.