By JOYANNA LOVE/Senior Staff Writer

CLANTON — Congressman Gary Palmer, who represents the Sixth District which includes Clanton, visited the YMCA of Chilton County on Feb. 23.

“I’m really impressed with the facility. This is first class,” Palmer said. “For a community this size, this is impressive, and I really appreciate what she (YMCA director Lori Patterson) is trying to do with the afterschool program.”

Patterson had arranged the visit to talk to Palmer about any available funding for the Y’s afterschool program.

“I have great retired teachers that come in and donate their time and tutor these children, but it is just a huge need,” Patterson said.

The program serves 75 to 80 students each afternoon. Time in the program is divided among academics, art and fitness. Students come from Clanton Elementary, Thorsby and Jemison.

“We get calls all the time from Verbena because they have nowhere to go after school,” Patterson said.

Since the Y pays for the bus driver to pick up kids from the school and bring them to the program, Patterson said the facility does not have the funds to expand the program.

Families are charged on a sliding scale based on income. Funds raised during the Strong Kids Campaign make up the difference to cover the cost of the program.

She told Palmer she is looking into various sources for scholarships for the students whose families cannot afford to pay for afterschool care.

“We want to be able to scholarship the kids we do have, especially the ones that come from single parent homes or life with relatives who can’t really afford to pay,” Patterson said.

Future plans, if funding was available, could also include onsite counseling and free childcare for single moms.

A member of Palmer’s team said they could look into what might be available. He also said he might be able to give Patterson information on funding available from another source.

“The family unit is so important to you and that is what we are trying to conserve and have these kids prepared for school,” Patterson said.

Palmer said he did not have specific funds he could designate for the project.

He said programs like the one at the YMCA are important to give students the educational support to succeed that they might not otherwise get.

“What breaks my heart is how many people like that [Catherine Johnson, African-American mathematician who figured out the reentry for the space shuttle at NASA] have we lost because they didn’t have the opportunity to get a better education, didn’t have someone investing their lives into them,” Palmer said.

He said it is better to fund these opportunities than to have the greater cost of losing what these students could offer.

Some retired teacher volunteers and students were on hand to demonstrate what students do during the academic portion of the afterschool program.

Palmer said he plans to come back one afternoon to see the program in action. He also mentioned donating some books.

“We are trying to incorporate more reading into our program,” retired teacher volunteer Ginger Head said.

She said more books were needed and donations appreciated.

Palmer said he spends time in the district visiting civic groups, schools and attending events.