GREENE – After 26 years of providing after-school care to students in the Greene community, Greene Cares is closing its doors on Wednesday.

“We’re dissolving,” explained Bonnie Hayes, the after-school program’s long-time administrator.

The program currently serves 30 students in Kindergarten through sixth grade. It follows the school calendar, providing care from approximately 1:50 to 5 p.m. each week day while school is in session. During that time, the kids engage in a number of activities including arts and crafts and gym time. They can also get homework help, or use the computer. Each year they put on a talent show, and recently wrote letters to soldiers serving in Iraq.

All that will come to a close on Wednesday, when Greene Cares closes its doors for good. According to Hayes, the decision to close is a financial one.

“We’re running out of funds,” she said.

Part of the problem is enrollment. As the program’s sole form of funding is from the fees paid by parents, this has created a strain. At one time, as many as 75 children utilized the service on a daily basis. Last year, that number was closer to 50. And things haven’t improved this school year. Since the eminent closure of the program was announced, enrollment has dropped further still to its current level of 30.