As construction on its new 7,000-square-foot building nears completion, the Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center is bumping up against unexpected costs that have left the organization “a couple of hundred thousand dollars” short of its $3 million budget, according to Bonnie Michelle Cannon, its executive director.
That’s why every little bit helps, she said this week as she acknowledged a meaningful donation from the Hamptons United Methodist Church in the amount of $25,000.
Hamptons United, the outcome of a merger of two Methodist churches, one in Southampton and one in Bridgehampton, said in a statement that its donation was inspired by the child care center’s continuation of after-school programs during the Covid-19 pandemic. A similar program at the Southampton church was put on hiatus during the pandemic, leaving a surplus of monies intended to help children and their families.
“We feel blessed to be able to collaborate with the center in their outreach to the Bridgehampton community,” said the Rev. Joanne S. Utley. “They have been steadfast in continuing to serve the community, despite the great challenges presented by the pandemic.”
With Jerlean Hopson and Arlean Vanslyke, church members who sit on the child care center’s board of directors, Reverend Utley presented the donation on March 11 during a tour of the new building.
“I was so surprised and overwhelmed by your gift for the center’s children,” Ms. Cannon told them. “We are living in gratitude for community friends like you. God bless you and your congregation for caring and sharing.”
The Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center currently has about 150 kids and teens enrolled in several programs, not just limited to after-school care. There are also weekend activities, tutoring, college and SAT prep classes, and a food pantry. Those programs are currently housed in the Southampton Town senior citizens center, which is next door.
Ms. Cannon expects enrollment to grow once the new facility is ready. “I have a lot of people inquiring, but I’m not really able to do anything, since we’re down one building.”
With the church’s grant, she hopes to support more children from the Southampton area, which will likely entail hiring more teachers to lead programs and more school bus drivers for pickup and drop-off.
“We’re here for the entire community,” Ms. Cannon said. “We serve all East End marginalized families, from Riverhead to Montauk. It’s a very vast area.” The church’s grant “helps us have more resources to be able to have more kids there.”
The Bridgehampton center’s original building dates to 1902. In 1949, it was repurposed into a child care facility following a fire in a camp for migrant workers that claimed the lives of two children.
The new facility has a library, a computer room, a large multipurpose room for various classes and events, smaller classrooms for one-on-one tutoring, storage space and offices, and a wraparound porch. A swimming pool is in the early stages of development. Ms. Cannon anticipates that there will be other community groups using the space, and social service agencies setting up satellite offices there.
“Construction is going really well,” she said. “It’s almost done, we just have to get the furniture and such in there — minimal things that need to be done.” Monetary donations remain key right now, Ms. Cannon said. “Anything that we can get to help with that, would be great.”
The bulk of the $3 million project budget came from private donors; State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. helped by securing $425,000 in state grants.
A donation link is on the Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center’s website, bhccrc.org.