Twin Cities Boys and Girls Clubs closing for two weeks

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities announced Thursday that it will close the clubs for the next two weeks as a budget balancing measure.

Seventy-six employees will go on unpaid furloughs for that time period.

The decision was made because the clubs are facing a budget deficit heading into the new year, said Boys and Girls Club CEO Erin Carlin. The organization faced a $300,000 deficit at the beginning of their fiscal year in September and year-end donations are another $300,000 short of expectations.

The clubs will also close an hour earlier when they re-open on Jan 7.

"We're still trying to figure out why we're not receiving the donations that we have in the past," Carlin said. "And we're trying to figure out how we can really go faster and ask more people quicker in order to secure the funds because ultimately children and their families that are going to be let down."

Roughly 12,000 children attend eight clubs in the Twin Cities area. Carlin said the clubs provide services including after school activities, recreation programs and meals.

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