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Jacksonville Boys and Girls Club receives $50,000 grant for renovations

The Boys and Girls Club of Jacksonville received a huge grant Tuesday that allows the club to make some much needed renovations.

JACKSONVILLE, Ark. (KTHV) – The Boys and Girls Club of Jacksonville received a huge grant Tuesday that allows the club to make some much needed renovations.

The club received the grant from Lowe’s. Jacksonville was up against the other 26 Boys and Girls in the state for the grant.

"It's great for them to experience things like this to see we actually care about them. This is their place,” CEO Laconda Watson said.

Watson said receiving this grant is huge because the building is in need of some much needed updates.

"We've been around for 49 years, as far as this building is concerned,” Watson said. “It is a building that needs a lot of love.”

She said most of the money will go towards securing the building.

"With our security right now, we're vulnerable with the open access entry,” Watson said. "So, The front area is going to be improved where we'll have a buzzed system to vet whoever is coming through the building before anything detrimental can happen.”

Watson said the club is also getting more security cameras. A few rooms in the building will be updated as well for the kids.

“We can rest knowing we have top notch security measures in place,” Watson said.

This grant is also making up for money that was lost. The city cut the Boys and Girls Club from its budget this year.

"It was up to me to figure out how are we going to make up for this $50,000” Watson said.

Treasurer Freddie Scott said winning this grant helps relieve some financial stress.

"We've been on a campaign left and right designed to grow revenue, to stabilize and to be on a pathway so we can fund projects like this,” Scott said.

Watson said this is more than just a check. It's a gift that provides stronger safety for hundreds of kids.

“It’s an investment into them. It’s an investment into a place they come to everyday that they love. Just to see their smiles on their faces and when they see all the improvements that are happening, we’re going to see a lot of great attitudes,” Watson said.

The Boys and Girls Club of Jacksonville plans to have the new security renovations completed by December.

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