WINONA - Jamie Gammage, director of the Winona Boys and Girls Club, came before the Winona Mayor and Board of Aldermen to request help with the financially strapped organization.
According to Gammage, her once $100,000 annual budget has been cut dramatically - now barely covering employee salaries. Funded by the Department of Justice, she now faces a $63,000 shortfall for this year.
"I am trying my best to keep my doors open," Gammage said. "I am here as a voice of the children of Winona. If our doors close, what are the children going to do."
According to the organization's website, the Boys & Girls Club Provides a safe place to learn and grow, ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals, life-enhancing programs and character development experiences, and hope and opportunity.
Gammage said during the summer months, the Winona club serves 40 to 60 kids per day, but due to facility issues, the number of children participating daily during the summer have decreased.
"Our building currently has no air or heat," Gammage said. "Our water is not fit to drink."
Gammage said she is currently seeking alternative housing for the club but has been unsuccessful.
As for the budget shortfall, Gammage said she is working on fundraising opportunities through grants and special events, but lack of funds is affecting clubs across the United States.
Alderman Charles Shelton suggested she contact organizations like Central Mississippi, Inc., and others to inquire about help acquiring air conditioning for the building.
Mayor Jerry Flowers even suggested the board volunteer their time to help the organization.
"We would appreciate any help you can give," Gammage said.
The board assured Gammage that they would take the necessary steps to aid her organization.
"Let me see what I can do to get the ball rolling," Flowers said. "This is about helping our kids, and there is nothing more important than that."
In other business, after Street Director Ricky Thompson became ill due to the summer heat, the board requested all department heads to keep adequate water available for employees that work outdoors.
"We don't want anyone to have to leave the job to go to the hospital," Shelton said.
Also, progress is being made on a $154,000 grant through Appalachian Region Authority to overhaul the waste water treatment plant. This project has been on-going for more than a year and has been budgeted by the city to complete.
The overhaul will include reworking all skirts and replacing the clarifier as well as updating the electricity and control box.
Flowers told the Board that efforts are still underway to acquire a $750,000 grant to rehab the water treatment plant after Water Department Director Patricia Currington told the board of the system's unreliability over the past year.
"We are trying to do everything to get the money without it costing the taxpayers anything," Flowers said. "We are also trying to get stimulus money for this."
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