For the past 34 years, the Salamanca Youth Bureau has been open to helping area children, but this year things are a little tighter than usual.
Since the casino decided not to pay its taxes to New York State, Salamanca has consequently lost a lot of state funding. Each year they factor in those millions of dollars, but now that money is not there and kids are the ones suffering.
“They don’t have a voice,” said Sandi Brundage, Youth Bureau director.
Within one year of the casino opening up four years ago, the number of visits the youth bureau received almost doubled. But now, with all the recent cuts, they have less money and less staff then before.
The issue the casino has is not with the city, but with the state of New York, so sadly the city and those who reside within it are caught in the middle.
Throughout all the different programs the center offers, the center records about 15,000 visits. Already from last January to this November the Youth Bureau has received 12,261 visits, Brundage said.
Every program provided to the children of the area is at no cost to parents. The Salamanca Youth Bureau is the only free program for children. Others require some type of fee or enrollment.
The Youth Bureau is open to any child between the ages of 5-18. Many of the children that attend the programs are residents from outside of Salamanca.
“We provide for all children no matter what race, creed or color. Any child can come as long as they follow the rules,” she added.
The center is a part of the state’s Youth Bureau Association, which first started after WWII. When the program initially started, the state provided 50 percent of the bureau’s funding; now the Salamanca center is lucky to receive between 6-8 percent, Brundage said.
With all the funding cuts, the center has had to reduce its hours and reduce staffing. Now, two staff members take care of up to 60 children each day after school.
Those members provide homework assistance, supervise recreation and offer “a safe place for children to recreate and congregate,” Brundage said.
The Salamanca Youth Bureau partners with 25 agencies, such as a senior citizen group, a home school co-op and The Rehabilitation Center, Cattaraugus County Department of Health, Cattaraugus Community Action, The Cattaraugus County Youth Bureau, Cornell Cooperative Extension, The Y-USA, etc.
The center has a gym, conference rooms, computer room and a recreation room that includes video and board games, pool tables and air hockey tables.
The Center also provides nutritious snacks for children Monday through Friday, through grant funding.
With a unique program, the center also provides food for children over the weekend through the “Fill a Backpack” program.
For some students, weekends mean no school, but for some it means no food either. This Program is supported by many community individuals and organizations. It is based upon a program started in Wyoming County by Pat Standish, Brundage said. The center will provide them with a backpack of food to last them through the weekend until school starts up again. Schools also have food resources for children, as does the Public Library.
The center is open Monday-Friday, 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Kids can get off the bus there and safely hang out until their parents are ready to pick them up.
With all the financial tribulations, they have been trying to get money through grants, but sadly that is a pretty slim pool as well and have been unsuccessful.
However, there is hope for the Youth Bureau. Since it is part of a municipal, it can’t directly fundraise, but through the Friends of the Salamanca Youth Bureau they can fundraise money that will go straight to all the programs for the children – not a cent will go for staffing payments.
The youth bureau could always use monetary donations, but they are in need of books, games, construction paper, non-perishable food, and around this time of year, hats, gloves and coats.
Through all the financial troubles, children are being hurt by forces beyond their control, “children truly don’t have a voice,” Brundage said. “It’s up to the adults to take care of them”
If you would like more information for how you can enroll your child in the afterschool program or donate money to Friends of the Salamanca Youth Bureau, please call 716-945-1311.
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