Paso Robles Boxing Program Seeks New Home to Save 80 Kids
Impact Boxing Outreach needs a new space to protect over 80 local youth from losing their safe haven.
Key points
- Impact Boxing Outreach serves over 80 local kids and faces closure without a new location.
- The program requires a 5,000 to 10,000-square-foot facility costing about $7,000 monthly.
- Students and parents describe the gym as a vital source of mentorship and safety.
Paso Robles. The heavy thud of gloves meeting canvas echoes through the room. Impact Boxing Outreach is losing its church-based home. This forces the program to find a new space quickly or risk closing its doors to more than 80 local kids.
The air smells of sweat and rubber. Coaches move between students, correcting stances with sharp, quiet commands. For these young fighters, this is not just exercise. It is the only place where structure replaces chaos. But that stability is now hanging by a thread.
From Garage to Sanctuary
Marcus Rostro started this journey eight years ago. He had a garage and a few kids. He offered boxing as a way to channel frustration. It began with one student. Then six. They moved to a parking lot. Now, the group has grown into a massive community. The garage days are a distant memory.
Parents came to Rostro with worried eyes. Their children struggled at school and at home. Rostro offered a different path. He wanted to give them a mentor. He wanted to give them a safe place to be. The result was a lifeline for families who needed support.
Kids Fear the Silence
Bryan Cruz stands by the ring. He worries about losing his friends. He worries about losing the training. "I would really miss that," he says. His voice is quiet but firm. The gym is his social world. It is where he feels seen.
Owen Lameray feels the same dread. He loves coming here every week. It makes him happy. To lose it would be devastating. For Aiden Hidalgo, the gym was an outlet for anger. His mother, Amanda Ramos, sees the change. Her son now has a leader to look up to. As a single mom, she cannot fulfill every need. This program does.
The High Cost of Survival
The program needs a new facility. The target size is between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet. That space will cost roughly $7,000 a month. It is a heavy burden. Rostro sees the impact of keeping kids off the street. He wants the program to grow. He wants to be more involved in the community.
The fight for survival is real. KSBY News reports on the urgency. The organization needs donors. It needs monthly pledge partners. Without them, the lights go out. The gloves hang silent. The sanctuary disappears.
