LAWTON Okla_ There's just
one week left in the Lawton Salvation Army's Boys and Girls Club Adopt A Child
program.
Officials say
the goal is to raise $40,000. They say that amount will help 137 kids attend
the club for a year, but so far, they've only received about $14,000. That's
just enough to help 46 kids whose families don't have the money to send them.
Just a few
hours ago, the Boys and Girls Club was packed with children, many of whom
benefit from the Adopt A Child program. Salvation Army Captain Ernie Hull said
if they don't receive more money soon, most of those children will have to say
goodbye to coming here.
Dozens of kids
fill the auditorium of the clubhouse everyday. Some play a game similar to
musical chairs but with hula hoops, while others dance to good music.
Hull knows how
special they are.
"These are
children who are your neighbors," Hull
said. "Because of access to our club, they generally turn out to have higher
GPAs and usually be the kind of neighbors you want to have living next door to
you."
He said that
reputation is being challenged. Only $14,000 has been raised toward the $40,000
the club needs to help 137 kids in the program continue enjoying the club.
"I look at
that a number of children who are not going to be able to be served as a result
of not reaching our goal," Hull
said.
He said that's
about 90 kids, but he's staying optimistic things will work out.
"Last year,
we fell a little bit behind as we near the end of the program," Hull said. "We put out the
information we needed the funds, and they came right in."
Club Director Christal
Durham said there may be a reason for the low funds in pocket so far.
"We did
start earlier this year, so the word is just really getting out to the
community about it," Durham
said. "So, I think we have good support in the community, and we probably will
reach our goal."
Durham said many of
the children who benefit from the Adopt A Child program come from lower income
households. So, they may not have the means to provide them all the things the
Salvation Army has to offer.
She said her
heart sinks thinking about any of these children being forced to stay home, possibly
alone.
"We would
not like to see them disappear from the club, and we would not want to turn
them down just because of financial reasons," Durham said. "The club is here to serve the
kids who need us the most."
"We want every
child to be able to have a club to call their own and this club helps us do
that," Hull
said.
Hull said if they
don't see reach their goal, the earliest they will see the number of children
attending the club decrease is around the summer time.
For $300, you
can pay for the child to attend the Boys and Girls Club for one year.
If you'd like to help, contact the Lawton Salvation Army at 580-355-1802.
