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Kimberly Houk ReportingHundreds of parents, students and teachers will be gathering tonight at Murray Park for an after-school rally for more funding to keep after school programs available.
Kaylynn Pryor is a working mother who relies on after school programs to keep her kids safe.
Kaylynn Pryor, Mother: This is so important because this way I know my children are being looked after, and I know that they can get help with their homework. They have activities to keep them away from drugs and violence."
But after school programs are in danger of being cut when a federal grant expires in one year. And in order to keep classrooms open after school, the program will need to raise about two million dollars a year.
Sara Eubank, Program Coordinator: “We want communities to know that these programs contribute to healthy communities in a variety of ways. They keep children off drugs. They keep them involved in healthy activities and they keep them out of crime."
Students can stay in after school programs doing different activities until six o'clock at night.
Sara Eubank, Program Coordinator: “We've got fishing club. We're starting a sewing club. The kids participate in electives so they're learning candy making. They're learning how to decorate cakes."
Rock Boyer, Program Director: “It's all centered around academics and learning and having fun and being safe - keeping kids from being home alone."
The programs cost parents 30-dollars a month per kid, a price that may have to go up next year if another source of funding isn't found.
The rally starts tonight at 6:30 in Murray Park.
