Youth Program Starts Despite Lack of Funding

Though 64 children have been enrolled in this year’s program, program director Octavene Saunders said, “We had to turn down around twenty children because we were not able to have enough financing to accept the children in order to have people that can help us. While we do have some volunteers, others receive a stipend and we have to have supplies.”

She continued, “We did not get any funding from the city of Cambridge to help with our summer youth program. The funding we did receive, which was less than $1,400, came late, and helped pay for the winter program. The county, because of their budget, had to cut our funding in half this year, giving us $3,400.”

“Portia Johnson-Ennels and I have been working together trying to get little grants here and there and we have been a bit successful. We’ve tried to get funding from local organizations.”

Mrs. Saunders said of the organizations that have slot machines, only Dorchester Elks Lodge 223 and Corporal Hermon Hughes American Legion Post 87 have helped. She said the others, “don’t even give us the courtesy of replying to our requests.”

“We had some business people that had supported us, but again, everybody is knocking on their door so they can only give us so much too. We do have individuals in the community that will donate a small amount. They donate to a lot of organizations so they just squeeze out something the best they can. But we are not supported the way we should be by our municipal government. The county supports us in many ways,” she said.

Image Copyright 2011 Peter P. Macinta

Bingo was one of the activities area young people enjoyed on the first day of the summer youth program. Above, Marie Daniels prepares to select another number.

Image Copyright 2011 Peter P. Macinta

Antionette Williams assisted the youth as they played the game. Other game assistants present but not pictured were Ben Saunders and Reneé White.

Image Copyright 2011 Peter P. Macinta

While Jade Banks was one of the winners, every child was a winner as they continued to learn.

Each week the young people will be presented with the “word of the week,” where they will learn a word’s definition, spelling, and usage. This week’s word was “responsibility.” Other activities have been slated throughout the summer and workers will continue to make sure that each child knows their address, phone number and names of their parents.

The program for ages 3 to 11 is held from 9:30AM to 2:30PM Monday through Thursday. Children are provided with breakfast and lunch. Children not enrolled may also eat breakfast and lunch.

For more information visit http://cambridgeempowermentcenter.com/, e-mail empowermentcenter@ymail.com, or call 410-901-1397.

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