Nampa Fire, Police groups to help raise money for after-school busing program
The Nampa Firefighters Union and the Nampa Police Association have begun a financial campaign to help fund the busing of Nampa School District children to existing after-school programs. Each group has committed at least $1,000 towards the cost of busing the kids.
“Currently, the Boys and Girls Club of Nampa, the Nampa Recreation Center, and the Salvation Army all offer after school programming for kids. These programs are in danger of collapsing due to the recent lack of funding to bus children to each site. Without busing, program attendance will drop to a critical level. If these programs go away, many Nampa children will go from school to an empty home. These programs offer a safe place for learning and positive social activities until they go home” said Nampa City spokeswoman Sharla Arledge.
“There are many safety-related benefits to supporting these programs,” said Shaun Laughlin, the Nampa Firefighters Vice President. “Although the benefits of these programs are immeasurable, a few are that they provide a supervised, positive atmosphere in which to learn, play, and have good social interactions with volunteers and other children.”
“This is a call-to-arms, so to speak. We need Nampa businesses and citizens to step up and meet the financial challenge created by budget shortfalls for these 250 kids,” said Laughlin. The busing program costs $8,000 per month to operate, and includes the utilization of five busses or more every day. “Only with the entire community support will we meet this need.”
The Boys and Girls Club of Nampa, an Idaho 501-c3, has stepped up to coordinate donations to help fund busing for all three programs. “The Boys and Girls Club of Nampa is willing and able to coordinate all donations for the purpose of busing for all three programs. One hundred percent of the money coming in for this purpose will go directly to pay the fees from the bus company,” said Mitch Minnette, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Nampa.
Several donation club levels have been established for this purpose. “’Adopt a Pass’ for $150 will provide funding to bus one child to their program for the rest of this school year. ‘Adopt a Month’ may be a possibility for a group of individuals or a business, at the cost of $8,000. The cost of busing each student is approximately $35 per month. Of course, any and all donations will pool to help the overall bus transportation to these after school programs,” Arledge said.
Donations to this funding drive may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Nampa, an Idaho 501-c3, and will benefit all three programs. Checks made out to The Boys & Girls Club of Nampa may be sent, with a note for Busing Fundraiser to:
The Boys & Girls Club of Nampa
316 Stampede Drive
Nampa, ID 83687
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