After Funding Cut, Camp For Hoboken Kids Seeks Donations Via GoFundMe

HOBOKEN, NJ — For many years, since Hoboken's YMCA shut down, there have been few affordable summer camp options in the mile-square city, despite campaign promises. But one non-profit rose up to fill the need so that parents could keep working in summer while their youngsters are kept busy and safe during the day.

The Community Lifestyles Camp run by Louis Quinones has had to raise money to continue its work each year, and one year, it almost suddenly shut down mid-summer until it was able to raise funds to continue.

This year, the funding was cut by 25 percent (see Quinones and other providers of Hoboken youth programs speak at the June 21 Hoboken City Council meeting, starting at 18:00).

But volunteers and supporters have come together to help give local kids ages 6-15 a great summer.

A GoFundMe that was set up two weeks ago, to help the kids enjoy free summer trips around North Jersey, has now made it two-thirds of the way toward its goal.

"This year, we are supporting 90 children, which is a 30 percent growth year to year," Quinones wrote on the GoFundMe. "Without our camp, these children would have little or no access to structured summer programming."

He added on the site, "We strike to provide the same level of enrichment and fun as the best, private summer programs in the area, at no cost to our families. These activities were chosen to support our learning/enrichment goals."

At the council meeting last month, Hoboken resident Patricia Waiters said that the camp has given Hoboken's kids something to do after they seemed "forgotten."

"We depend on Louis," she said. "Do you think things get better by trying to push us out? ...Please do not cut his funding. Please let our kids have a camp and a program. Could we fix this? Can we find money under a rock, under a tree, under those rat traps outside?"

The nonprofit Community Lifestyles, founded six years ago, runs programs during the school year, too. The group runs on government grants and donations from the community.

They also run school break camps and tap into community talent by using volunteer coaches from around Hoboken.

For more information on the fundraiser, see the GoFundMe here.

For more information on Community Lifestyles, go here.

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