East Fort Myers program calling for funding to upgrade facilities

A local program on the east side of Fort Myers is looking for more funding to help make space for the kids they serve.

COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE COPING WITHTHE NEAR-DAILY CHANGES IN TIRROUTINE ..

ALL BECAUSE OF COVID.A PLEA FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT!THANKS FOR BEG INWITH US.

I’’PATRICK NOLAN.

TONIGHT...THEFOLKS WHO RUN COMMUNITYPROGRAMMING AT BILLY BOWLSEGPARK IN FORT MYERS ...AREPUTTING OUT A CALL FOR SOME CHAS... TO HELP THEM EXPAND THEIRSERVICES.

AS FOX 4’S ROCHELLEALLEYNE EXPLAINS ... THEY SAYTHE CITY CAN HELP GET THE BALLROLLING...AT AN UPCOMINGMEETING.(0:19-0:25:)"One""Two"TODAY’S LESSON AT THIS EAST FORTMYERS AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM..."orange juice."IS ABOUT NUTRIO..ITIT’S ONE OF MANY SERVICESPROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY...ATBILLY BOWLEGS PARK...AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE...GERRIWARE... SAYS THE GOAL IS TO GIVETHESE KIDS A DIFFERENT PATH...((Gerri Ware//ComnityAdvocate))"We provide so many childrenwith tutoring, encoaguring themto not be a part of the prisonsystem.

Trying to bepreventate.ivTODAY’S CLASS CAN FIT IN THEPORTABLES THEY’RE CURRENTLYUSING...BUT COME SUMMER...WARE YSSATHEY’LL HAVE *HUNDREDS OF KIDSLOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO.((Gerri Ware//CommuAdvocate))"This building will notfacilitate 200 kids."TO HELP ACCOMMODATE THENEED...THEY HAVE A PLAN TOEXPAND.((Gerri Ware//CommunityAdvocate))"A multipurpose building."WARE SAYS THAT PLAN REQUISSEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS...ANDCITY FUNDING...TO HELP GEITTDONE.BUT SHE ADDS THAT NEGOTIATIONSTO GET THAT CITY MONEY...HAV E’TGOTTEN THEM RESULTS JUST YET...TONIGHT...SHE’S CALLING ON THECITY TO SET ASIDE SOME OF ITSBUDGET...TO HELP THEM GET THEB JODON..E.((Gerri Ware//CommutyniAdca))vo"This is a part of the STARS,the STARS over there on Edisonwas brugoht to us 30 years agoby the mayor at that time.

Ithas taken us 30 years to tgeanother facility in thiscommunity."AND FORT MYERS MAYOR KEVINANDERSON AGREES...((Kevin Anderson//Fort MyersMay))or((PHONER))"The east part of the city hasbeen neglected."IT’S A CONVERSATION THAT HE SAYS*MAY COME UP AT THURSDAY’SBUDGET HEARING...((Kevin Anderson//Fort MyersMayo)r)((PHONER))"I can’t say for sure whetherrnot it will come up tomorrow andto what extent it wi ballconversation.

But this isdefinitely something on my radarto discuss with the tycimanage"r.TOMORROW THE BUDGET STARTS AT 9AM..AS FOR MS. WARE...SHE SAYS BIYLLWLBOEGS IS *JUST THESTART...SHE’S ALSO CALLING FORDUNBAR PARK...MCCULLOM HALL ANDOTHER FIXTURES IN THE BLACKCOMMUNITY TO GET SOME MORE C