Chipping in
TCL Chip Wagon also raising money for charities, creating jobs
Y’s Men’s and Women’s Club raising money with chip wagon.
When the chips are down, a local club finds another way to keep going.
The Glace Bay Y’s Men’s and Women’s Club has opened the TCL Chip Wagon, located in the Town Centre Lanes parking lot on Commercial Street, Glace Bay.
“We definitely need money to keep going, our hall needs a lot of work done,” said Bobby Donovan, club treasurer.
“We applied for funding from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality but were turned down. They told us to try again in April.”
Donovan said they’re hoping with community support, the chip wagon will not only help the club maintain the bowling lanes and hall, but also raise money for charities and create jobs.
A total of 50 cents from every box of french fries will help women recovering from breast cancer.
“We have $1,000 we are donating (Monday),” Donovan said. “We need to raise money but it’s also creating jobs and we’re helping out people who need help because as a club that’s what we do.”
A visit from the fire inspector resulted in a list of things which had to be fixed.
Although much of the work has been done, about $10,000 will be needed for the sprinkler system and $80,000 is required to update the gymnasium.
“We need to do this gym over for the kids,” he said, adding work is needed to the ceiling, walls and floors. “We get 150 kids in there every day between cheerleading and floor hockey.”
The Y’s Men’s and Women’s Club purchased the Town Bowling Lanes and Knox Hall seven years ago, to keep the bowling lanes and hall going and to raise money for community projects and charities.
Since purchasing the building, some $330,000 has been put into it, $130,000 from the club and $200,000 from various grants. The club also purchased new bowling pins and balls at a cost of $17,000 and paid that bill through fundraising efforts.
A new roof was put on the hall, the hallway and kitchen were renovated and new windows, doors and washrooms put in on both levels. The club also raised $9,000 for a new furnace.
“We put in at least $30,000 of our money into the hall this year alone with new fire alarms, a new panel box, exit signs, fixing up the power room.”
Money the Y’s Men raise comes from operating the lanes and hall, as well as from side projects including selling Christmas trees and now the chip wagon.