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With the closure of the Boys & Girls Club approximately ten years ago, Homer, like many Alaska communities, faced the challenge of providing safe after-school spaces and activities for its young people. After many false starts, this year the Rotary Club of Homer-Kachemak Bay joined a broad, diverse team of organizations, advocates, and youth service experts exploring improved access to after school programming for the Homer, AK area. This effort involves the coordination between the school district, national after-school programs, such as the Boys and Girls Club of Alaska, and the collaboration of many local organizers who have filled the gaps with niche programming for families. The consensus is to reestablish the Boys and Girls Clubs of America programs in Homer. In securing a certain future for a Boys and Girls Clubs of America program to set up in the area, the group which includes Rotary officers, needs to ensure that the funding mechanisms are diverse and sustainable. The Rotary Club of Homer-Kachemak Bay is a leader in the community, supporting families and children in a time of great need, and giving confidence to many other community organizations to secure the sustainable funding needed to keep a program thriving. Initially focused on the approximately 600 young people in the Homer area of elementary school age, the District matching grant kick starts this effort and exhibits the commitment of the Homer community to follow-through on its goal of improved quality of life for the younger members of our community. The annual Cranium Cup Trivia night, Peony Festival peony sales and the annual Health Fair provide resources for the Club match.
Addendum to Project Description (added after the project was signed)
The initial project was to help finance a new Boys and Girls club in Homer. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, this endeavor failed. The intended funds were diverted to the South Peninsula Area Rec Center (SPARC) which provides day and evening physical activities for Homer's adults and youth. Additionally, SPARC provides Homer adolescents evening activities in a secure, climatically controlled and drug free environment under adult supervision.
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