The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Y: Expanded building, expanded services
ONEIDA >> In 2012, the Oneida Family YMCA engaged in a $1.1 million capital campaign entitled “Step Up for the Y.” This campaign was created to address a number of needs in both the Rome and Oneida branches; however the largest portion of the effort was for the Oneida branch.
Through the support of YMCA members, several donors in the community, and the efforts of Assemblyman William Magee in securing funding from the Office of Children and Family Services, the YMCA was able to reach the campaign goal, which included an expansion of the Oneida building.
The Oneida Family YMCA conducted studies to identify a programming and facility gap in the existing building from 20102012. Because of the lack of rooms for children ages 8-12, the Y was at a loss for serving families with children in this age category, who were identified as too old for the child-watch room, but too young to be left unattended. This resulted in a gap of space and programming for this crucial age for families to come to the Y together.
In addition, the Oneida branch lacked meeting and educational space for programming. The YMCA had been requested to host trainings, meetings, workshops, lunch- and-learns and adult education, however had no space available.
The result was the construction of two rooms: a multi-purpose room, primarily for family programming and a state-of-the-art conference room.
The construction project is now complete, and the Y has received the certificate of occupancy to begin pro-
gramming.
On Friday, Sept. 16, the Y hosted a tour of the new addition for those who donated towards the campaign. Donors were provided with a program and membership status update from the staff team and a preview of the programming space. New programming will include youth bounce houses, indoor miniature golf, bubble ball fun, birthday party rentals, fitness testing as well as brand new adult cross training equipment and fitness classes.
For schedules of programming and more information, visit www. ymcatrivalley.org