In just a few weeks, students in the Puget Sound area will be returning to school. And for children like Lillian, the Lacey Boys and Girls Club was a fun place to hang out over the past couple of months .
"I come here after every school day and every single day during the summer."
And if you ask most parents, they'll tell you these after school programs are saving grace. But in Olympia, they're about to become very scarce.
"Those after school programs were funded by the the city of Olympia and now that funding is gone. There's going to be a gap for after school care," says Joe Ingoglia of the Thurston County Boys and Girls Club.
The city of Olympia has cut funding for its after-school programs. Leaders blame $2.6million in budget cuts for the tough decision. And no wonder according to the Afterschool Alliance - a recent study revealed six in every 10 after-school programs are losing funding this year. Approximately 83% say they don't know where the money will come from over the next three to five years.
But fortunately, Lillian's favorite club is helping fill the void. The Boys and Girls Club of Thurston County plans on building a new club house at Garfield Elementary School. In the interim, a center will be set up at Jefferson Middle School. Students will have to pay a $25 membership fee.
Ingoglia says more than 95% of their funding comes from local donors. Money's a little harder to come by than normal, but they are managing.
Nonetheless, in addition to building a new club house, the Boys and Girls Club has got to raise money for the interim facility, so they've asked the city council for $25,000 to get it started by September 9th. Before it was eliminated, the after-school program cost the city of Olympia more than $140,000 per year.
So local parents appreciate the Boys and Girls Club - not just for trying to step up in this time of need.
"I've heard some say that what we really are is a guidance program disguised as a recreation program,"says Ingoglia.
It's place where kids children like Lillian can enjoy a pick-up game of bumper pool, or parents can find peace of mind.
"It helps everyone: kids, families, teachers. We're helping kids with their homework and it's a big win so we're going to be looking for support on this plan," says Ingoglia.
"I come here after every school day and every single day during the summer."
And if you ask most parents, they'll tell you these after school programs are saving grace. But in Olympia, they're about to become very scarce.
"Those after school programs were funded by the the city of Olympia and now that funding is gone. There's going to be a gap for after school care," says Joe Ingoglia of the Thurston County Boys and Girls Club.
The city of Olympia has cut funding for its after-school programs. Leaders blame $2.6million in budget cuts for the tough decision. And no wonder according to the Afterschool Alliance - a recent study revealed six in every 10 after-school programs are losing funding this year. Approximately 83% say they don't know where the money will come from over the next three to five years.
But fortunately, Lillian's favorite club is helping fill the void. The Boys and Girls Club of Thurston County plans on building a new club house at Garfield Elementary School. In the interim, a center will be set up at Jefferson Middle School. Students will have to pay a $25 membership fee.
Ingoglia says more than 95% of their funding comes from local donors. Money's a little harder to come by than normal, but they are managing.
Nonetheless, in addition to building a new club house, the Boys and Girls Club has got to raise money for the interim facility, so they've asked the city council for $25,000 to get it started by September 9th. Before it was eliminated, the after-school program cost the city of Olympia more than $140,000 per year.
So local parents appreciate the Boys and Girls Club - not just for trying to step up in this time of need.
"I've heard some say that what we really are is a guidance program disguised as a recreation program,"says Ingoglia.
It's place where kids children like Lillian can enjoy a pick-up game of bumper pool, or parents can find peace of mind.
"It helps everyone: kids, families, teachers. We're helping kids with their homework and it's a big win so we're going to be looking for support on this plan," says Ingoglia.
