ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Children line up outside the Cumberland Gardens facility each day after school, waiting for the doors to open to an array of free programs, from basketball to homework help, offered by the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown.<\/p>\n
Inside, the sounds of laughter and play are constant, something CEO Katarah Jordan says reflects the impact the center has on local youth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you walk into this space and you hear the laughter and they\u2019re running up to you and they\u2019re calling your name and they know that they are safe and they have a meal and they have warmth or air conditioning, depending on the weather, it really matters,\u201d Jordan said.<\/p>\n
But that sense of stability may soon be at risk.<\/p>\n
The Cumberland Gardens location, which serves children in what Jordan describes as an under-resourced and underrepresented area, could close due to rising costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is such a critical resource for them,\u201d Jordan said. \u201cThis is an under-resourced, underrepresented area and the only after-school programming space on the south side of Allentown.\u201d<\/p>\n
For years, the Allentown Housing Authority has covered costs such as staffing and allowed the Boys and Girls Club to operate in the space rent free. However, after receiving less federal funding this year, Jordan said the organization must now begin paying rent and take on staffing expenses as well.<\/p>\n
Jordan said the nonprofit cannot sustain those additional costs long term.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been paying out of pocket. We will continue to for as long as we can, but we\u2019re getting to the point where we just can\u2019t do it on our own,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
According to Jordan, it would cost about $180,000 a year to keep the facility open.<\/p>\n