Jana Pritchett, left, and Susan Wakefield, the assistant director and executive director, respectively, of Le Roy Christian Community Project are pictured at the home of the After School Program on Pleasant Street. The LCCP has launched its first-ever capital campaign with a goal of $75,000.
The end of each school day brings a fresh start for Susan Wakefield.
Every weekday afternoon, she meets a group of elementary-age students in the Wolcott Street School cafeteria. From there, they walk to the modest house at 4 Pleasant St. that is the home of the Le Roy Christian Community Project’s After School Program.
For the youngsters, it’s a place to spend time with friends, finish homework and learn new skills under the supervision of adult and teen volunteers. It’s a safe haven — with a healthy snack added for good measure.
It’s also a job, and a place, Wakefield clearly loves.
“The kids are wonderful, just amazing,” said Wakefield, who is the LCCP’s executive director. “This house is just stuffed.”
This school year brings a new challenge: The loss of a $20,000 annual foundation grant, which covered nearly 20 percent of the organization’s annual budget of $104,000.
So the LCCP in November launched its first-ever capital campaign. The goal of “Lift LCCP” is to raise $75,000 by the time the effort wraps up next March 31.
A successful campaign will guarantee support through the end of the school year, and help the organization rebuild its funding base.
Still, “Lift LCCP” is about more than dollars.
“We’re looking, yes, to raise funds,” said Jana Pritchett, assistant director. “But we also want to raise awareness.”
The Le Roy Christian Community Project was launched in 1998, with seed money provided by three local churches. It supported the after-school program for elementary students, and a Teen Night for students in grades 7-12.
The LCCP now also offers Summer Day Camp, Grace’s Kitchen, Backpack Club, Mommy & Me Playgroup, Caregiver Connection and Ladies Prayer Group.
Most of the programs are offered without charge. That may be a blessing to the community, but it’s a challenge for LCCP.
“A lot of people will say, ‘Oh, it’s LCCP — it’s free,’” Pritchett said. “They think the churches fund everything, and that’s not the reality. They do support us financially, but it’s not enough for all we do.”
Other sources of funding include grants, fundraisers and donations.
It has been suggested LCCP introduce fees for some of its programs. Pritchett said that’s not a solution.
“A lot of our grant funding wouldn’t allow us to charge,” Pritchett said. “But if we did, probably three-quarters of our families wouldn’t be able to afford it; it just wouldn’t be in their budgets.”
Wakefield estimates the eight programs LCCP offers, serve between 300 and 500 children and adults each year. Grace’s Kitchen, a free meal program created by Selby Davis and staffed by volunteers, serves an average of 135 dinners each week at the Masonic Community Center.
“It’s not just the kids,” Wakefield said. “It’s mom and dad, and grandma — the whole family.”
Pritchett sees the LCCP as a benefit not only to the children and adults it serves directly, but to the wider community. The After School Program, for example, is an investment in Le Roy’s future.
“We help create healthy, responsible children,” Pritchett said. “Children who are going to be adults someday.”
For more information, or to make a donation online, visit www.leroychristiancommunityproject.org, or look for LCCP on Facebook at www.facebook.com/leroylccp.
LCCP is a not-for-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible.
Contact LCCP at 7 E. Main St., by phone at (585) 768-7540, or via e-mail at leroylccp@gmail.com.
