Zone Community Center want to raise about $45,000

By Tom Grace
Cooperstown Bureau

February 01, 2008 09:28 am

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Organizers of the Zone Community Center want to raise about $45,000, $10 at a time, to complete construction of a facility at the corner of Ann and Walnut streets in the village of Richfield Springs.

The 3,200 square-foot building is framed and sided, but it needs plumbing, heating, air conditioning and interior work.

"We've got about 60 percent of the building done, and we'd like to have it completed by late spring,'' Larry Kroon, president of the Richfield Springs Youth Ministry, said Tuesday.

The ministry operates the Zone Youth Center, a supervised place for teenagers to gather on Friday and Saturday nights.

In 1999, the Zone opened in the basement of the Church of Christ Uniting but soon outgrew the space. It relocated to 140 Main St., a building owned by local businessman Jay Bernhardt. When Bernhardt's business expanded, the Zone moved to its current location, the old feed mill on Lake Street, also owned by Bernhardt.

By the time of that move, organizers were focused on finding a permanent home for youths to gather in a safe, wholesome environment.

In two years of fundraising, these organizers have collected about $92,000, but need about $45,000 more to reach their goal, Kroon said.

To secure that money, he said, they've come up with a campaign to "nail $10 into our community's future.''

For a donation of $10, contributers will have their names inscribed on nails placed on a frame inside the building.

Another member of the project committee, Donna Jones, said that if everyone in Richfield Springs donated $10, the community center soon would be completed.

"We buy our youths many items _ cell phones, PlayStations, iPods _ but a contribution to the center might have a bigger impact on their future,'' she said.

Jackie Hinckley, co-chairwoman of project committee, said that raising money has not been easy, but the community has backed the center at every critical juncture.

"We're almost there now,'' she said.

Contributions may be sent to the Richfield Springs Youth Ministry, PO Box 108, Richfield Springs, NY 13439. Kroon said checks should specify that they are for the Zone Community Center.