The Boys & Girls Club of Richland County is seeing record-breaking numbers already as the school year begins.
There have been 155 students registered for the after-school program. A record amount of 114 students attended on Tuesday.
“Three years ago, we had 102 for the record,” Sara Berndt, program director, said. “We’ve been in the high 90s and in the 100s every day this year.”
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Sarah Sifers, executive director of the club, said there were 110 club members in the program at this time last year. Once colder weather hit, the number increased to 171.
Different this year than last year is the club is no longer eligible to apply for one of its grants ($50,000) and the $40,000 received through stimulus funds last year is not available now.
“This year, the money has gone away so we are facing a budget deficit,” Sifers said.
The club is going to be rolling out a new fundraising idea where parents and community members can make a monthly pledge to the club and have it automatically withdrawn from their accounts. “A $20 pledge each month can go a long way if 200 people are making it,” Sifers said.
Another shortfall comes in the amount of volunteers this year. Berndt urges residents to help out either daily or a few times a week. If interested, call her at 433-6763.
“Once we’ve hired more help, or get more volunteers, then we can reopen membership,” Sifers said.
Donations of healthy snacks would also be appreciated.
The club’s makeup is young with kindergarten being the largest group with (32) and about 13 fifth graders helping as aides once their homework is done.
“It has gone really well so far,” Sifers said of this year’s program. “But we need more people to serve more kids.”
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