Amsterdam YMCA fundraising short of goal, but doors stay open

PHOTOGRAPHER: Matthew McKibben

Although the Amsterdam Family YMCA didn’t reach its original fundraising goal, the organization does not plan on closing its doors anytime soon.

“We are not in a situation where we will have to close our doors and stop providing services to the community,” Director Nancy Carr said.

Faced with a large financial gap, the organization had hoped to raise $55,000 in September. Carr reported the YMCA has raised $44,000 to date, with large corporate donations from throughout the region.

“Some large donations were made by Price Chopper and Stewart’s [Shops],” she said, “but every dollar counts and the donations mean a lot.”

However, the fight to keep the organization afloat is not over, Carr said.

“This is just a start,” she said. We still have a long way to go.”

Carr said it is tough for a nonprofit to survive in a community where many people have a tough time making ends meet.

“We know people here don’t make a ton of money, so it is hard for them do donate,” she said. “But hundreds of people have come forward and been extremely generous.”

The Amsterdam Family YMCA provides a number of services for the community, including before- and after-school programs, early childhood classes and exercise programs for senior citizens.

Carr said fundraising is very important to the organization because membership fees don’t cover costs.

“The fundraiser really closes our deficit and gives us the money we need to run this operation day-to-day,” Carr said.

Earlier this year, in an effort to cut costs, the YMCA decided to close Saturdays, but with the recent influx of funding, the YMCA is now open from 8 a.m. to noon. Carr expects the facility to get more use in the winter months.

While many communities deserve a YMCA, Carr said, Montgomery County needs one.

“People here really rely on the services we provide, and it’s important that we keep our doors open,” Carr said.