Fundraisers Aid Two Sacramento Community Centers

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - More budget cuts may shut down programs at long-standing community centers in Sacramento.

The Oak Park Community Center and Clunie Community Center at McKinley Park are two of nine centers in Sacramento on the chopping block.

For the past 30 years, the Oak Park Community Center has been a staple in the neighborhood, but now it's a resource that's barely keeping its doors open.

"A lot of people here utilize the resources," said Peece Keepers Inc. CEO Algrie Bridges, whose group has taken over control of running the center. "It would just be tragic if these programs weren't available."

Saturday's Day of Peace Festival was an effort to raise awareness for the community center's resources. The city of Sacramento plans to shut down nine of 12 community centers beginning June 30 because of more budget cuts.

The city recently transferred the asset to the public in the care of Peece Keepers, which is keeping the doors open two days a week, but more assistance is needed.

"We need people to come to the fundraisers," Bridges said.

"This is important," resident Dionee Thomas said. "Our kids are our future. This is our community. It takes a village to raise a child, and here's a village. And we're the villagers."

All proceeds from Saturday's event will go toward saving the center. Wells Fargo is also accepting donations at any Sacramento branch. Just mention the Oak Park Community Center Fund.

Also on Saturday in east Sacramento, people came out to show their support for another community center. The "Sweatin' for McKinley" event raised money for "Friends of East Sacramento."

The neighborhood non-profit stepped in to keep the Clunie Community Center and the rose garden open at McKinley Park. Both faced closure because of budget cuts.

Saturday, people sweated it out at a boot camp as a way to give back. The goal was to raise $5,000.