JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After the Jacksonville Children's Commission ran out of funding to support local summer programs, Mayor Lenny Curry announced Friday that the city will front nearly a million dollars to help bridge the gap and offer more children the opportunity to attend summer camp.
After numerous calls and complaints from parents and providers, city council members met with the city auditor. They are using $958,000 from the Jacksonville Journey fund that had not been utilized to keep the camps going.
The Jacksonville Children's Commission funds camps every year, and a spokesperson fro the commission said they didn't have enough money to cover all the requests they were getting from camp providers this summer. With the additional funding, they will now be able to open 24 more sites around town and serve 1,700 more kids this summer. The director of a summer camp on the Northside, who was denied funding after 12 years in the program, said being in a high-risk area for violence had her concerned about the kids.
"It really frustrated me even more," said Bernadette Williams, director of Camp Home. "My concern was where are these kids going, they are not going to be safe they're not going to have somewhere where they can learn."
City Council and JCC didn't quite get into detail when it comes to why they ran out of funding in the first place, but said they will make changes so it won't happen again. The commission funds camps every year, but this year, they said costs have gone up, and the commission can’t accommodate as many students as it could in the past. The JCC told City Council it costs $500 per child this year for summer camp, up from $350. In turn, it can't provide as much help to parents in need.
SEE: The full list of summer camps offered through the Jacksonville Children's Commission
"We are thrilled with what's happening right now," said Jacksonville Children's Commission CEO Jon Heymann. "As the mayor said, this is a Band-Aid. A more serious solution has to be done in the future."
As for Camp Hope, they will now get their funding and serve 140 kids this summer.
YMCA of Florida's First Coast issued a statement after the mayor's announcement:
"We are in full support of the city’s decision to expand funding for summer camps that help our children discover their endless potential,” said YMCA of Florida’s First Coast president and CEO Eric Mann. “At the Y, we know a child’s development is never on vacation. Our commitment to youth development is aligned directly with the city’s priority to educate and support all children on the First Coast, regardless of their social, economic or educational background. The Y’s summer camp sites are available across the entire Northeast Florida and offer financial assistance to qualified applicants ensuring no child is turned away."