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Myspace to stay open for winter, thanks to donors

Molly Dischner/KDLG

The youth center at Dillingham's SAFE will be staffed for at least three more months with help from BBNC, BBEDC, and private donors. 

Dillingham youth will continue to have a safe, warm place to hang out at SAFE this winter.

Myspace manager Gregg Marxmiller says generous contributions from the Bristol Bay Native Corporation, Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation, and several private donors will keep the doors open for the next three months at least.

“You know, we were coming down to the line with three days to closing down," says Marxmiller, "and them stepping up and helping out kept us open -- and is keeping us open right now. I mean, we have like eight kids there right now benefiting from that.”

Credit Hannah Colton/KDLG
At Myspace, kids help establish community norms to create a healthy, positive environment.

Myspace has also received in-kind donations of time and food since they announced they would likely have to close at the end of November.

But Marxmiller says the future of the youth center is still uncertain.

"We still are not gonna be open for the rest of the year at this point, but we've got some breathing room. And we will be open tomorrow, for sure, and the next day, and throughout the cold season," says Marxmiller. "I think one of the goals now is to get through April, when it's a tough time, when the breakup happens, and people are getting kinda depressed... it gets rough. So that's key, that’s our next goal, to get through April."

Myspace was originally funded by the “CANDU” grant in 2011. An extension of those funds ran out this summer, so SAFE paid the youth center staff out of its own budget for a few months until its own funds ran dry.

SAFE is still seeking other sources of long-term funding. They’re inviting the community to check out Myspace at an open house this Wednesday.  

Contact the author at hannah@kdlg.org. 

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