LEBANON — The Lebanon Area Boys & Girls Club is facing a major budget shortfall, which has caused the organization to cut back on staff and hours of operation beginning this fall.
Demand for services has outpaced the club’s ability to keep up financially, said Steve Carr, program director. Two staff members have already left — one was laid off and one resigned — and hours of operating will be decreased beginning in the fall.
“Cuts are hard, but if the club is going to persist, they are necessary,” said Executive Director Angie Veatch. “We cannot keep pace with the demand for our services without a significant increase in our budget. The only way this is going to happen is with an increase in our fundraising support. So far, that hasn’t happened.”
Beginning on Aug. 7, the first day of school in Lebanon, the club will remain open until 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. It will also be closed during fall break, winter break and spring break, along with other holiday-related school closings. As of right now, the club does plan to open next summer, but that could also change.
“We’re just hanging on and hopefully it will turn around,” Veatch said. “I can’t forecast summer out unfortunately. We’re looking to push forward and stay open, but every day is a challenge for us right now.”
Beth Jones, parent of two children ages 7 and 11 who attend the club, said she was very upset when she heard the news.
“This is the only place in town where kids can go and we know they’re safe, being taken care of and not getting into trouble,” she said. “I completely understand why this is happening, but I’d hate to see it go. It’s too good of a club.”
Jones added that the club has helped her immensely as a parent when it was open for her kids during school breaks while she was working. Without it, parents will need to make arrangements with other families or babysitters to make sure children are supervised. The club has also helped her daughters educationally and socially.
“Whenever I pick them up, they tell me they had a great day and about all the activities they did. It’s not just running around, but actually learning,” Jones said. “I really think the community needs to see how important the club is for these kids. And it’s just as important to me as it is to them.”
It costs the club $850 a year to provide meals and services to onemember for one year. The cost of an annual membership is $40. But that disparity is not one the club is looking to narrow, Veatch said. It’s not their goal. It could make the club too expensive for some of the families that need it the most. And with around 200 members, a small increase would not provide enough money.
“We’re trying to make it affordable to everybody,” she said. “To raise the membership fee would not pull in the money we need anyway, and our mission is not to raise the rates for our families.” Deciding how to cut back on expenses was very difficult, Veatch added. The number of members has quadrupled in recent years, so she knows that the need for the club exists. “Having to cut those services is tough when your community needs it,” she said. “But we have bills to pay as well, like any other business. We’re not trying to make a profit, but are trying to stay open.” The club is funded in part by the United Way of Central Indiana. Christie Snyder, area director for Boone County, said the club has made United Way aware of its financial challenges and the actions the board is taking to address them. “United Way of Central Indiana cares deeply about the young people and their families served by important youth development programs in Boone County and throughout central Indiana,” Snyder said via email. “We are hopeful that under the agency’s own board leadership, and with the support and expertise of other community leaders, the agency’s efforts will be productive and sensitive to the needs of the youth it exists to serve.” According to the United Way of Central Indiana’s website, nearly $75,000 is currently allocated to fund the Lebanon Area Boys & Girls Club — $51,200 from the community fund, $9,332 from donor designations, and $14,000 from other funds. The club’s programs, including some of the club’s biggest programs like Kids at the Table and SCORE Mentoring, are not being cut at this time. Free transportation, homework assistance and meals will remain the backbone of what the club offers on a daily basis, Carr said. To get back on track, Veatch said the club needs an additional $20,000 a month. Anyone is welcome to donate, because every little bit helps, she said. And with a smaller staff, volunteers are needed. The club is seeking anyone willing to step forward to help continue current programs, or anyone with an interest — agriculture, science, finances, baking, foreign languages — that they’d like to share with young people. “We can find an opportunity for almost anyone who wants to help make a difference in a young person’s life,” Veatch said.
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