A youth centre in Hillsborough is at risk of closing after a major funding loss.
The Hillsborough Drop-In is a program led by the Riverview Boys and Girls Club and operates out of the former RCMP building.
It offers a number of educational activities for kids from 10 to 17 years of age, including kitchen fundamentals and various outings.
Lynda Carey, Executive Director of the Riverview Boys and Girls Club says it gives children who may not otherwise leave the village an opportunity to do so.
She says many children look forward to joining the program, noting that some even celebrate their 10th birthday at the centre.
However, like many non-profits, they rely on donations and grants to cover the majority of costs.
Carey says they learned just last month that what is usually their largest donation won’t be awarded this year.
She says the $30,000 contribution makes up about half of their annual expenses and that if they aren’t able to make up the money they’ll be forced to close at the end of February.
“My biggest fear are the children who live in what they call down country, which would be further down like Hopewell Hill and ever Riverside Albert who come to school at Caledonia Regional who will be bused home and will become latch-key children at as young as 10 years of age,” says Carey.
A public meeting will be held on Wednesday evening to discuss options on keeping the centre open.
