MONTEGO BAY, St James – The Le Antonio’s Homework and Development Centre is now facing closure due to lack of funding, close to a year after it began catering to the educational needs of students in Barnet Lane and several other inner-city communities in Montego Bay.

“Le Antonio’s Foundation Homework Centre, which serves the at-risk inner-city youths and families in Montego Bay and neighbouring parishes, is in desperate need of funding… If we don’t get it [we] will not be able to remain open,” Anthony McKoy, the founder and president of the foundation told the Jamaica Observer West earlier this week.

“We have faced closure many times as even our rent sometimes cannot be met, but we keep fighting…,” said McKoy.

He expressed fear that if the foundation does not receive financial assistance soon, at least 75 children from the poverty-stricken communities of Barnett Lane, Railway Lane, and its environs will lose the benefits of the free service provided by the homework and development centre.

The centre located at 1 Barnett Lane at a section of building that houses the offices of Le Antonio’s Roofing and Construction, provides assistance to students with their homework, and allows them an opportunity to do research, learn Spanish and French, and to express their creativeness in the Art Club.

McKoy told the Observer West that the foundation has received a “little assistance here and there,” but noted that the bulk of its operational cost is borne by his construction company.

“Rent, electricity, water, stipend to teachers, educational materials, field trips… cost over $95,000 monthly and this comes mainly from my business,” he said.

The foundation has embarked on a fund-raising campaign online under the theme: ‘One, one, cocoa full basket- your donation of US$5 will help change a child’s life.’

“We are appealing to the online community to join our passion by donating to the Le Antonio’s Foundation’s crowd-funding campaign by going to: www.gofundme.com/leantoniosfund,” McKoy urged.

“We invite the friends and followers of Le Antonio’s Foundation on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube to rally with us and donate at least US$5 each to strengthen the hands of the foundation,” he appealed.

According to the foundation, donations received will, among other things, assist the acquisition of a more spacious area to accommodate the students who are currently on the waiting list for the Homework and Development Centre, assist in the annual back-to- school treat, purchase computers and supplies and to fund the scholarship programme.