Boys and Girls Clubs Innovate Amid Budget Cuts in South Dakota

In South Dakota, Boys and Girls Clubs are adapting creatively to significant budget cuts that threaten their operations. These community organizations, crucial for supporting vulnerable youth, are finding innovative ways to bridge funding gaps and continue their vital work.

Rachel Kocak, program director of the Rosebud Boys and Girls Club, highlighted the challenges faced by the organization. Approximately 40% of its annual operating budget has been affected due to the loss of federal funding. “The level of disruption that we’re seeing as an organization is, in some ways, trivial compared to the everyday life of most of the kids we serve,” Kocak stated. The club is focusing on creative solutions to make up for the funding shortfall, including a new program called the Steep Up Entrepreneurs Club.

This social enterprise initiative engages club members in creating, packaging, and selling herbal teas within their community. “We’ve come up with three really beautiful teas that the kids have created a label for,” Kocak explained. Students take part in every stage of the process, from calculating product costs to conducting market research. This hands-on experience not only fosters entrepreneurial skills but also builds resilience and camaraderie among participants.

The Rosebud Boys and Girls Club is also running an online charity auction featuring locally sourced items, including handmade crafts and subscriptions to local publications. Additionally, the club recently received a U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm to School grant, enabling the construction of two high tunnels to extend the growing season of its vegetable garden.

Beyond these initiatives, the club offers a teen workforce development program that allows young members to gain practical job experience. Kocak noted the positive impact of this program: “We had two teenagers who were paid to be here and were working. All of a sudden, we had four more teenagers just hanging out because they were part of that friend group.” This organic growth in participation highlights the club’s role in fostering a supportive environment for youth.

The challenges facing the Rosebud Boys and Girls Club are part of a larger trend affecting similar organizations across South Dakota. One significant funding source, the 21st Century Community Learning Center grants from the U.S. Department of Education, faced delays this year. Initially withheld for review, the funds were finally released on July 18, but uncertainty looms over future allocations. The South Dakota Department of Education confirmed that no new grant applications will be accepted this year, further complicating funding for the club.

Other Boys and Girls Clubs on reservations, such as those in Pine Ridge, Standing Rock, and Lower Brule, are also navigating these financial challenges. The SuAnn Big Crow Boys and Girls Club in Pine Ridge recently reopened after a prolonged closure due to the pandemic and funding issues. Chairman Richard Abdoo emphasized the importance of community pride and self-sufficiency in their programming. He estimated that operating the club costs over $500,000 annually. While initial funding from the national organization has provided a temporary lifeline, the club faces a substantial financial shortfall for the upcoming year.

Abdoo expressed the need for strategic planning to address the anticipated funding gap. “We’re going to be putting our plans and our budget together to identify what we are going to do to make up the anticipated shortfall,” he said. The club is exploring partnerships, including potential collaborations with local organizations like the Civil Air Patrol, to utilize their facilities for meetings, which could help offset costs.

Despite these financial hurdles, Kocak remains optimistic about the resilience of the clubs and their mission. “Everyone’s going to be going through a pinch right now, and our mission is to help kids do hard things,” she stated. The Boys and Girls Clubs serve as vital resources in reservations, addressing not just immediate needs like meals and childcare but also fostering long-term development for youth in some of the most challenging conditions in the United States.