TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A community center in Terre Haute could be closing its doors soon because of funding.
The 14th and Chestnut Community Center has been a safe place for local children for the past 25 years. However, this upcoming school year could be its last due to a federal funding freeze.
Services the center provides include after-school activities, summer childcare, and meals, all at no cost.
Program Director Laresha Johnson grew up attending the center herself and is now helping the next generation.
“This center means so much to me, not only because I attended as a child and I know how much it has impacted me, but also, now that I am in the position that I’m in, I get to see a lot more of the effects of the center”, Johnson said. “I get to see kids that I grew up with doing their thing now and making changes in their lives and for their families that, ultimately, are better than what the situation was when they were younger.”
At the end of last year, the center was given a Federal 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant worth $372,000 a year for the next four years. Executive Director of the center, Connor Scanlon, said they were recently notified that the money would be halted.
“We had been planning for six to eight months now to be able to have funds from this grant for four years”, Scanlon said. “Then we found out about a week and a half ago that the grant was frozen and the future of the grant was really uncertain. They didn’t know if the funds would be released or not.”
One year’s worth of money has been released, however that will only last through this upcoming school year.
Both Scanlon and Johnson agree, the closing of 14th and Chestnut would hurt the kids the most.
“We get to put them in a relationship with high school and college students that have a heart for them and are pouring into them”, Scanlon said. “You can’t have too many people like that in your life, but some kids don’t have that at all, and this might be the only place that they’re getting that.”
“I think that we would just be letting the kids down ultimately”, Johnson said.
14th and Chestnut is currently looking at fundraising options to stay open past next year.
If you are interested in donating or being involved, Goodwill in Terre Haute is asking customers to round up and the proceeds will be donated to the center. You can also visit the 14th and Chestnut website here.
