Since the Redmond Boys and Girls Club transitioned away from the Boys and Girls Clubs of America to become a program that is known as REACH, the nonprofit youth club has been able to secure additional funding while membership in at least one program has quadrupled in just over a year.

The result is an increase in membership and grants to the program, but Executive Director Jenny O’Keefe said community donors are a large piece of the puzzle.

“We are still trying to figure out the best way to raise money that Redmond will respond to and can afford,” she said. “Being independent gives us a lot more freedom to look at (modern) funding models. We are still figuring it out, and we are still broke, but we are still getting a lot of support.”

The Boys and Girls Club faced financial struggles and closed the Redmond location in 2014 before it was reopened and rebranded as REACH — the Redmond Experience Activity Connection Hub — in 2016.

The club offers programs for kids before and after school and on days with no school. The programs give working parents the peace of mind that their kids are getting to school safely and are not unsupervised during nonschool hours, O’Keefe said.

“We want to be here for these families,” she said.

“It’s important to keep kids engaged and let parents go to work worry-free. Our economy depends on REACH being available for working parents.”

One REACH program takes place in the mornings. Kids can be dropped off at 6:30 a.m. and receive breakfast and a ride to school. This allows parents to be at work at 7 a.m. and not worry about their children trying to make the 8:30 a.m. bus to school, O’Keefe said. The after-school program serves families until 6 p.m.

REACH will offer programs this summer, and parents can register their children starting April 1.

O’Keefe, 46, has been at the helm of the club since 2014. The mother of six moved her family to Redmond in 2001 and knows the value of affordable youth programs, she said.

“It’s important to local employers, too, because the community counts on REACH,” O’Keefe said. “We are committed to low rates for the Redmond community. Our goal is to be the cheapest in town, and we don’t turn people away. We will make it work.”

When it opened as REACH, the club was serving 20 to 25 children in its after-school program. It now serves about 100.

The club is more than just child care for some parents.

“We provide a service, but what (families) are getting out of it is so much more,” O’Keefe said. “We are not just warehousing kids. We want them to connect to their community and become valuable citizens.”

For Gale Carter, 49, of Redmond, the staff and activities offered at REACH have made an even bigger impact. Her two children — Jordan, 7, and Marisa, 8 — were enrolled in a more expensive day care before REACH and didn’t have the same experience, Carter said.

“Before, they were stuck inside watching TV, and there was just a tiny yard to play in,” she said. “At REACH, there are constant activities to be involved in and to choose from. It’s been an amazing experience for my kids.”

Her son, Jordan, has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and initially struggled to adjust to a new program, Carter said.

“He was going through some transition problems, and instead of labeling the kid as a troublemaker, the staff was amazing,” she said. “They helped find out what works for him and are always researching how to help my son be more successful. It just let Jordan know that people are there for him.”

The services offered by REACH have gained statewide attention, and the club recently was awarded a $25,000 grant to expand its building on 15th Street and a Student Success Out-of-School grant for $56,752.

Both grants were awarded by the Oregon Community Foundation.

REACH was selected as the recipient of the funds raised by 100 Men Who Care, a philanthropic group in Central Oregon that raises money for local charities through 100 or more member donations of $100 each.

Despite the larger donations, the program needs smaller, regular donations to continue growing, O’Keefe said.

“People get excited about the big shiny grants, but the need is ongoing,” she said. “We need those grassroots, $5-a-month efforts. We need regular community support.”

— Reporter: 541-617-7829, acolosky@bendbulletin.com