NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson YMCA asks for help from the community each year in its annual campaign to defray expenses for its programs for low-income families.
"If you just took an example of the 186 kids that participate, or are going to participate in our upcoming basketball season," said the YMCA's David Foster, "Anywhere from 10 to 20, maybe 25% of those, wouldn't be able to participate in our programs without some form of financial assistance."
It's not that the campaign completely takes care of it, either, but every little bit helps. The overall campaign goal is $92,000. The community phase of it is $25,000.
"Most of the time, we give away more than we raise," Foster said. "We're able to offset the cost of that just through our regular operating budget. Of course, we'd love to keep closing the gap on that."
Thanks to help from the Boys and Girls Club, the Y has been able to continue its Saturday Night at the Y events on the second Saturday of every month.
"A lot of our board members will come and volunteer," Foster said. "We have also had a lot of other community members volunteer. Last month, we had four or five individuals from Rise Up Reno. Buhler schools and Hutch Public Schools have been very instrumental in sending staff to volunteer at the event as well. Of course, Lance and the Boys and Girls Club, they provide four to five of their staff at every event to help out, as well."
There were 119 middle school students from Hutchinson, Nickerson, and Buhler at the January event.
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