CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Christmas is still months away, but this Saturday's “Christmas in July” is thinking ahead and offering a fun event in the summer sun in an effort to help benefit the community's children.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at the Lake County Youth Center, located at 4750 Golf Ave. in Clearlake.

The Lake County Youth Center and Toys for Tots are putting on the event to support both the youth center's renovations and the Christmas toy giveaway to benefit local children in need.

Clearlake Mayor Joyce Overton, one of the event's organizers, said so far 25 vendors have signed up, there will be three vans to collect donations of unwrapped toys, numerous raffle items, food – from hot dogs to chicken dinners and pork sandwiches – and live music, a daylong basketball tournament with cash prizes and more.

The street in front of the youth center will be closed to accommodate the festivities, she said.

Other offerings include a motorcycle run and the chance for children to talk to Santa.

Overton said one of the goals is to get a head start on gathering toys for the Christmas toy giveaway that, in years past, has been organized by the Lake County Community Action Agency, which closed earlier this year citing a myriad of fiscal issues.

“I didn't want to see it go away on our end of the lake,” Overton said of the toy drive, adding that they're trying to get a head start on the work of collecting toys.

Another part of the effort is raising the estimated $30,000 needed to renovate the youth center, which needs new windows, new flooring and a new kitchen, the latter being the most expensive part, Overton said.

So far, Overton estimates she has about $3,500 pledged toward the youth center's planned upgrades. Labor is being donated for the effort, but materials and funds are still needed.

The youth center and the community's safe house for homeless teens were both under the aegis of the Lake County Community Action Agency, Overton said. They're now overseen by the Lake Community Pride Foundation.

For more information on donating to the youth center's renovations, contact Overton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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