Springfield, IL (WAND) – Santa came early for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois.

In August, the organization lost $2.8 million in funding and was forced to charge $60 a week for after school care.

Now, District 186 has provided funding for three after school program sites to reopen at Blackhawk, DuBois and Ridgely Elementary Schools on Jan. 12. This does not apply to the new program sites.

“It will be helpful, and it will help address some of the needs that our families have and the needs of the schools as well, who have their own after-school programs, who are also full,” said CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Central IL, Tiffany Mathis Posey.

“These would be completely funded. So, they would not be paying a weekly fee at these sites, which is really, really awesome. We’re so grateful for that. And I know that that will be a huge help to many, many families,” Posey said.

Posey said after school programs are pivotal for kids and the community.

“We’re seeing violence rise with our youth shootings, stabbings; there’s so much going on. We definitely want to be here to do our part to help alleviate some of that,” Posey said.

The new funding supports the after-school programs until the end of the school year. The Boys and Girls Club is still looking for additional fundraising. 

If you’re interested in donating to the BGCCIL, you can go to their website.