Gov. Ned Lamont Friday issued a warning that without help, children's nonprofits could go under.

In Connecticut, day care centers and group homes never shut down. But with extra COVID-19 precautions, the cost of caring for kids has skyrocketed -- and donations are drying up.

Nonprofit groups told Lamont Friday they are struggling.

Initially, Congress was a lifeline. Some nonprofits got Paycheck Protection Program loans, while others got CARES Act money. But now, that's running out, and Hartford may have to help.

"The problems that all of you are facing are not COVID created. They pre-date COVID unfortunately, and COVID has exacerbated -- like it has for so many different industries," said state Sen. Gennarro Bizzarro.

Because of the pandemic, the state is $2 billion in the red.

Foster parents and children's advocates say it's money well spent.

"We know that stabilizing the lives of children is what the recovery of Connecticut is going to need on the other side of this," said Vannessa Dorantes, Department of Children & Families commissioner.

Connecticut set aside $125 million in CARES Act money for nonprofits, but much of it has already been spent.