With parents losing jobs, fewer kids might get to enjoy day camp and sports programs this summer.
The Boys &Girls Clubs of Snohomish County hopes to raise more than $70,000 by mid-June so that doesn’t happen. Time is running out, though. Summer vacations at some local schools begin in less than two weeks.
“On a daily basis, we see parents who have lost jobs and aren’t able to pay,” said Mike Neumeister, director of the Alderwood Boys &Girls Club, where about 3,500 kids participate in different activities through the year. “There was one day when three different parents told me they had lost their jobs. That was really difficult. We don’t want to turn any kids away.”
The clubs stay open about 12 hours a day during the summer to provide children an array of activities, including fitness programs, field trips, art projects and computer classes.
The costs vary by location, often running $100 to $140 per week.
The fundraising goal is $260,000. The $70,000-plus shortfall could mean the loss of partial scholarships for up to 200 children. That could be the difference between going or not going to camp this summer.
Economic problems have been evident throughout the county, even in areas considered affluent.
“Some of our biggest challenges right now are in Edmonds, and you’d never expect that,” said Paul Seely, the clubs’ county-level director of community relations. “It really is everywhere.”
Often, the scholarships pay for a quarter or half of the weekly cost. Though $25 or $50 per week might not seem like much, it could be a substantial deterrent for some families with two or three children over the course of 10 weeks.
“A contribution of $350 would virtually ensure that a kid would be able to go to camp for the entire summer,” Seely said. “It’s going to go right into that club or that situation where the kids need help.”
Donors can make pledges, even if they don’t have the money right away.
The Boys &Girls Clubs trace their origins in Snohomish County back to 1946, when the first club was chartered in Everett. The first standalone club opened in north Everett in 1964.
After 1991, the organization began a tremendous growth spurt. In addition to 14 current locations throughout county, there are 18 school extension sites for before- and after-school programs. About 18,000 kids participate in a variety of activities throughout the year.
Neumeister, 38, has worked at local Boys &Girls clubs for about 15 years. When he was 10 to 12 years old, he also benefited from a club in downtown Edmonds, then known as the Edmonds Boys Club, where he used to play basketball.
“I think that it was a fun, positive place to go as a kid and spend time,” he said.
While he had a stable, two-parent family, other youngsters didn’t. The Boys &Girls Clubs like to be there for everyone.
“We make it available for all kids of all different backgrounds,” he said.
He enjoys seeing former club-goers who are now in their 20s or 30s. “It’s rewarding to see kids who have really turned out well.”
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
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