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Ever since the New Rochelle YMCA pool was forced to close its doors last year due to damage to the ceiling and roofing area, officials with the organization have been hard at work, raising money as part of the $1.3 million campaign.
Their latest offering involved swapping swim trunks for dancing shoes as they took to the gym floor for a line dancing lesson taught by longtime dancing instructor Eleanor “Ellie” Minor. In total, the YMCA raised more than $1,500 that will help expedite the time until the pool can be utilized again.
“I know what it’s like to be in a tough place where you have to pick yourself up, get motivated and move on, so I wanted to do what I could to help out with the pool campaign,” she said.
Damage to the ceiling was discovered in November when contractors were in the process of removing the pool’s drop roof, which is no longer permitted because it masks moisture buildup.
While investigating the damage, engineers found several of the steel beams supporting the roof structure had corroded due to this and a complete replacement may be necessary.
According to Julie Gallanty, chief executive officer of the New Rochelle YMCA, the $1.3 million “Be A Lifesaver” campaign could be one of the most important in the organization’s longstanding history in the city.
“This fundraiser is the most critical in the Y’s 30-year history,” she said. “Unfortunately, the reality is, if we cannot raise these funds, our pool will have to close for good, and, since the pool is a major source of funding for us, we would have to close our doors to the community entirely.”
Because it is an independent YMCA, the New Rochelle branch does not receive support from the larger, national YMCA organization. Due to this distinction, officials have been forced to reach out to the community it’s assisted for more than three decades.
If the “Be a Lifesaver” campaign fails, the New Rochelle YMCA may have to close its doors permanently, as the pool is a chief source of revenue for the organization.
“Dozens of children who took weekly swimming lessons here suddenly found themselves without a pool,” Senior Program Director Sue Odierna noted. “Parents who came daily with their children for Family Swim time lost their pool. Dedicated, early morning lap swimmers were left without a pool.”
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