JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A burst pipe sent water pouring through the ceilings of The Bridge Boys & Girls Club in Jacksonville’s Springfield neighborhood Friday morning, leaving about a foot of water inside a facility that serves approximately 100 elementary-age children every day.
What would normally be buzzing with kids was buzzing with fans Friday as crews worked to dry out the building at 320 8th St. West.
Flooding destroyed floors, walls, furniture, computers and school supplies.
CEO Paul Martinez called the damage heartbreaking — not just for the kids, but for the working parents who depend on the club.
“This is like these kids’ second home. It’s their club. It’s a Boys and Girls Club, and it’s just devastating,” Martinez said. “It’s kind of like going to your home and seeing everything torn apart.”
The club serves children from 2:30 to 6 or 6:30 p.m. daily, giving working parents a safe place for their kids to go after school.
“We take care of these kids every day from 2:30 to 6, 6 or 6:30 and they’re working parents and they need a place for their children to go and their kids need a place to be that’s safe,” Martinez said.
The Bridge has operated as a second home for generations of Springfield children since 1983, providing homework help, hot meals, mentorship and a safe place to learn and grow. More than four decades of community service were disrupted in a matter of hours.
Repairs are expected to take months.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida is working to temporarily relocate affected youth to its Brentwood Club location, about a mile to a mile and a half away.
“We’re fortunate that we have a club in Brentwood, which is about a mile, a mile and a half from here, that we’ll be able to hopefully get our kids over there during this time of repair,” Martinez said. “We’re looking into that right now.”
The Club urgently needs community support to repair the building and replace essential learning resources, including laptops and school supplies. Martinez said the organization is still assessing the damage and determining a timeline for reopening.
For now, he is asking the community for prayers.
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