Funding Losses Will Halt Programming At The Longtime Martin Luther King Drive Clubhouse Sept. 30, While The Rayburn Club Is Set To Permanently Close Days Earlier
News that the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio will temporarily suspend programming at its Eastside Clubhouse has quickly drawn concern from residents who say the facility is more than an after-school program — it is a longtime fixture used in the community.
The Eastside Clubhouse, located at 3503 Martin Luther King Drive, will hold its final day of programming Wednesday, Sept. 30, and pause operations for the remainder of the school year. The organization is also permanently closing its Rayburn Clubhouse on Sept. 25.
A Sept. 14 memorandum distributed to Eastside employees says the organization made the decision because of “significant funding losses” and is eliminating positions assigned to the clubhouse as part of an organizational reduction in force.
Employees assigned to the Eastside Clubhouse will remain employed through Oct. 2, according to the memo.
In a separate letter sent to Eastside families, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio said “ongoing financial challenges” forced the organization to pause programming.
“We understand that this news will be difficult for many families and may create uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead,” the letter states. The organization said it is working with community partners and exploring resources to assist families during the transition.
East Side Residents React To Clubhouse Pause
Word of the decision began spreading across Facebook this week, where former members, employees and community residents reacted with disappointment and disbelief.
“I think all of San Antonio needs to see this!!” Darius Smith wrote while sharing copies of the notices. “They are closing a STAPLE of the Eastside community!”
One commenter, Fran Ramos, pointed to the impact the decision could have on working families.
“Taking away resources from parents who really need it and children who need that outlet,” Ramos wrote.
Another community member, Clarence Springs, called on former club members, employees and “club kids” to speak out about the decision.
“This is not right,” Springs wrote, describing the Eastside Clubhouse as the “pride of Eastside” and urging community members to make their concerns heard.
Springs also tagged a lengthy list of community members and elected leaders, including District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez.
The reaction reflects the role the clubhouse has played beyond simply providing child care. Boys & Girls Clubs describes its facilities as places where children can receive homework assistance, mentoring, meals and snacks, participate in recreational activities and develop leadership and workforce skills. The organization serves children ages 6 through 18.
For Eastside families specifically, the MLK Drive location provides transportation from several nearby campuses, including IDEA Carver, IDEA Eastside, Gates Elementary and IDEA Najim, among others.
A Longtime East Side Resource Faces An Uncertain Future
The Eastside Clubhouse’s future is particularly notable because public money has recently been invested in the facility.
In June 2024, San Antonio City Council approved approximately $1.82 million in 2022 bond funding for construction work at the Eastside Clubhouse, according to city records.
The organization currently says it serves nearly 4,000 children annually through its clubhouses and school-based programs across San Antonio. Its programs include academic support, health and wellness initiatives, leadership development and workforce preparation.
Just weeks before the closure notices were issued, the Eastside and Rayburn locations were being promoted as options for San Antonio families seeking affordable after-school care for the 2026-27 school year. The Eastside program had been scheduled to operate weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The organization has not characterized the Eastside decision as a permanent closure. Its letter to families says programming is being paused, while staff works with community partners and explores options to support affected families.
