WASHINGTON β They say it takes a village to raise a child. For some families, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington is a part of that village.
"The club is a part of our village," said Akeia Haddox-Rossiter.
She says her kids have been attending the Jelleff Community Center Boys & Girls Club for more than 10 years. Her 14-year-old son Elias has been attending since he was six years old.
"It's a second home for me," he told WUSA9, adding, "My family has this saying, there are three things that are really constant that will stay in our lives. Home, church and the Boys and Girls Club."
But now, the club that's been around since 1953, is in jeopardy.
"We are not in the FY 25 budget starting October," said Gabriel Webster, the President of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington.
She says the D.C. City Council has indicated that the Jelleff Community Center Boys & Girls Club will not receive funding for two years while the club undergoes renovations.
She told WUSA9 they were planning to still operate at a temporary location while those renovations took place. No funding, means that can't happen.
"I'm looking out at the faces of dozens of young people who will not have a place to go after school," Webster told a crowd outside the community center in Georgetown Wednesday night.
"What will we do for the kids during construction. Hundreds of working families citywide depend on this program," said Kishan Putta, ANC 2E01 Commissioner.
"When schools have renovations, they have a swing space, they plan for it. They have a swing space where kids can go for that temporary period. That's all we're asking here and what we've been asking for for years," said Putta.
He added, "If these cuts go through, this amazing program will cease this October, many months before the construction even starts. We can not lose this program."
"Today is the day, Save Jelleff," said Michael McDonald, the Vice President of Impact and Innovation for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington.
"Today! Email your city council and the Mayor and remind them Jelleff is important," said McDonald.
Councilmember Brooke Pinto, who represents Georgetown, wrote on X, "I'm deeply concerned about the $$ cuts that'd prevent @BGCGW from providing vital after-school programming for kids from all 8 wards. Iβm committed to restoring these critical funds so our kids can access these programs, even as Jelleff Rec Center soon undergoes renovations."
Webster says this program is so clearly needed.
"On the news everyday they talk about our young people. Why would we not fund the place where we know where our kids are? What they're doing, and help them grow and develop into great human beings," said Webster.
"I just don't understand how we can have a conversation about the state of the youth and making laws and how our youth aren't doing what they're supposed to do and then we take away safe places where people are dedicated to seeing our children thrive," said Haddox-Rossiter.