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An after school program aimed at serving at risk youth now finds itself in jeopardy.

Federal funding cuts has placed the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic School’s All Stars after school program at risk, school officials have said.

Founded in 2011 through a collaboration with the Friendship Train Foundation, the loss of its 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant could place the science, technology, engineering, arts and math [STEAM] education program on the chopping block.

“Our community has come to rely on this afterschool program,” Melissa Halk, the program’s director has said. “It keeps our students safe and learning during those critical after school hours while parents are working.”

Founded in 1923 as an institution of learning for children of Italian immigrants, the school serves a culturally diverse population comprised of Hispanic, Haitian and African American families.

The program serves more than 150 students in grades one to eight, mostly from low-income neighborhoods in and around Asbury Park.

And while Friendship Train Foundation and a host of community partners help support the program, the funding cut translates to a possibility that it will not return in the 2018-19 school year. Local collaborators include Interfaith Neighbors’ Kula Cafe and Urban Farm, Lakehouse Music Academy, the Asbury Park Music Foundation, and Monmouth University.

“This program is one of the finest in the country,’’ Friendship Train Foundation President Michel Marks said. “For eight years, it’s been a boon for Asbury Park – and for hundreds of young children, and their parents. Until now, it’s been funded primarily by outsiders, and it really needs the local community to step in now to keep it running.”

In 2014, the program was one of three featured by the United States Department of Education for excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programming. In addition to providing homework help, its STEAM enrichment activities include yoga, cooking, robotics, guitar and ukulele instructionals.

While the funding cut came in 2017, the school was able to implement changes without compromising quality, school officials said. But despite the changes and the support of in-kind programming, the program remains unable to sustain itself.

Donations can be made through The Friendship Train Foundation via friendshiptrain.org.

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