Sen. Kaine meets with Boys and Girls Club of SWVA to discuss potential threats of funding cuts

Serving the community since 1997, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia supports families with after school care, academic support, and character development.

Melanie Shanks said as a single parent, it’s crucial.

“My little boy loves being here and meeting new kids and he’s gotten so much better in his grades because they have special tutoring,” said Shanks.

But now, the Boys & Girls Clubs is concerned about losing federal funding.

The Trump Administration has not given states the $6 billion appropriated in the 2022 Safer Communities Act. Virginia is set to get $108 million of that money and some of it is meant to help fund the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Virginia.

“I’m preparing him now to try to stay by himself and he’s terrified, but I don’t have anybody,” said Shanks.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) doesn’t want anyone to face that fear.

“We don’t know why the funding was paused, it was part of the budget. It was appropriated,” said the Senator.

Saturday, he joined parents, education leaders and members with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia in Vinton to talk about the funding cuts and what it means for the organization.

“A deal is a deal. It should come to Virginia and it should come to these programs,” said Sen. Kaine.

60% of the funding for the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Virginia comes from federal grants. CEO Rebekah Meadows said the future of the organization is uncertain.

“We have eight sites that use this funding and so we’re working through scenarios for each of those,” said Meadows. “Our goal is always to serve our kids and that they have a reliable, consistent place to be.”

As the discussion came to a close, Sen. Kaine promised to take concerns on the funding cuts with him to D.C.

“Pauses in funding jeopardizes really important programs, we urge federal officials to continue the funding. Resolutions like that I think could be very helpful,” said Sen. Kaine.