Lakewood Boys & Girls Club Bursting at the Seams

They're growing faster than expected. And we’re not talking about the kids.

Attendance at the has soared in the past year as the facility has become one of the most popular hangouts. With that has come added pressure on the nonprofit organization’s staff to manage the spike in numbers.

On a recent day at the club, every computer station was occupied. Every chair was taken by a young person doing homework. The hallway shelves were stuffed with backpacks and personal items.

Attendance reached 256 on Oct. 5, a record-high at the facility that was built in 2007 by grants from the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation. September attendance was up 39 percent from the previous year, and club officials believe it could easily reach full capacity at 275 by the end of winter, and 300 by springtime.

"I didn't see it happening this fast," said Erik Kramer, club director. "It speaks to the quality of the programming and the extreme need in Lakewood," Kramer said.

Attending the club is less expensive than enrolling in a day care center. Eighty-two percent of the club’s students are on financial scholarship. A child on the school district’s free lunch program pays $30 a month; those on the reduced lunch plan pay $60, while the regular cost is $90 a month.

More than 63 percent of students attending the are approved for free or reduced lunches, according to May 2010 figures from the Office of Superintendent for Public Instruction. The club has a policy of not turning away any child.

Since the beginning of the school year, attendance has slowly risen from 213 to 243. At that pace, the facility will reach capacity by the end of October or early November. Kramer said if it reaches capacity, the club will consider moving some programs next door through a partnership with .

Juan Madera, the club’s program director, said word has spread about the program's improvement. He said the sports and drama programs have experienced the most noticeable increase.

The teen program has gotten bigger along with the general attendance, passing this year’s goal of 130, and reaching 170 so far.

In order to meet the growing demand for quality childcare, volunteer participation has doubled, up from 22 in 2010 to 45 this year. And with a 14 percent employee reduction compared to last year the Club launched a new initiative called the Great Futures Program, in which nearby college students work part-time while earning their degree.

While they’re dealing with such increased demand, the club is also faced with a budget cut that means they rely more on volunteers and partnerships with colleges.

"We're probably going to continue to grow," Kramer said. "I've given some thought to capping programs. That's going to be a big thing moving forward."