State Senator Emanuel Jones is singing the praises of a budget boost for a local youth program, touting a hefty $50,000 earmarked for the Malachi Project as part of the FY 2025 Budget. The Decatur-based initiative is known for its work with kids, providing an after-school haven where they receive a dose of the good book alongside life lessons, according to a Senate Press release.
Jones, a Democrat hailing from Decatur, didn’t hold back his approval, saying "Supporting initiatives like the Malachi Project is essential for the betterment of our community and the future of our youth," as reported by the Senate Press. The release lists the Project's activities from Bible to baseball, including tutoring, mentoring, and lessons on core values such as integrity, respect, and forgiveness. The General Assembly's nod to the nonprofit in the new budget round has been hailed as an investment in kids who clock in weekly for a program mix that's part seminary, part life-skill boot camp.
With 50 youths currently signed up, the Malachi Project's horizon is set on grander vistas. The plan is to roll out initiatives like Adopt-A-Student, where Joe Public can foot the bill for a kid's needs from chow to chalk. The funding is a push toward expanding their reach, with a handout for meals, rides to the center, and learning materials.
For those looking to peel off a few bills for a good cause or just peek at what the Malachi Project's cooking up, more info's a click away, right on their press release, showing the details of the program and how the community and individuals can get behind their mission, be it a monthly splash of cash or the odd one-off support.
