Support from Hudson River Community Credit Union!
We are beyond grateful for Hudson River Community Credit Union's incredible donation of $125,000 to our Capital Campaign and Food Program. With this contribution, Hudson River is not only empowering local youth but also investing in our entire community. Ensuring that our youth have access to vital resources and opportunities will inspire a better future for us all.
Hudson River has supported our food program for several years, helping us dish out more than 15,000 meals annually! This year, our food program is projected to cost more than ever before. With skyrocketing attendance, increased local need, and rising food costs, we are budgeting nearly $42,000 to feed our kids their daily after school snacks and home-cooked meals. HRCCU has allotted $25,000 to keep our kids fed in 2025! Food insecurity prevents children from thriving. When your basic needs aren’t met, your journey to achieving success is drastically more difficult. We believe in fueling bodies with healthy and varied offerings, and we will be able to provide for so many local youth thanks to Hudson River.
In addition to feeding our kids, HRCCU is helping us expand our building to expand our Health and Wellness and Educational offerings! In late 2024 we launched a Capital Campaign to raise $900,000 to build a 3,000 sq ft addition to our current building on 60 Montcalm Street. Their generous contribution of $100,000 brings us a huge step closer to making this Wellness Center a reality.
To successfully further our mission, we are now concentrating on expanding our facility to create a Wellness Center. The youth we serve are the future leaders who will significantly impact the quality of life in our community. To support their development into productive adults, we must motivate them today. This project will ensure that no child is turned away due to a lack of space or resources, positioning the Youth Center to serve our community for decades to come. Our hope is to commence construction in June 2025. We are seeking support from the community to help make our expansion a reality.
Regular physical activity plays a crucial role in improving school performance, reducing the risk of depression, and helping children manage stress. It also supports their mental and emotional well-being. Our Wellness Center will encourage physical activity among young people, particularly those who spend too much time on screens, by offering fun and engaging ways for them to stay active. The U.S. Department of Health recommends that children between the ages of 7 and 17 get at least 60 minutes of exercise each day. Our goal is to provide enjoyable, accessible activities that promote the overall health and well-being of every child we serve.
The planned expansion will allow us to:
Create additional program spaces for academic support, vocational training, and life skills development.
Build a dedicated wellness area to address mental health needs, including counseling and mindfulness activities.
Enhance our recreation facilities to provide safe, healthy outlets for physical activity and social connection.
With the addition of a pantry, we can expand our kitchen and dining area to serve more nutritious meals to the children who rely on us for food security.
In addition to physical wellness, we aim to enhance education at the Youth Center by engaging in STEAM activities, preparing kids for future careers, and addressing systemic inequalities. This expansion will not only create a top-tier Wellness Center but also restore our study space, which was repurposed for essential items during the pandemic. It will also allow us to create a dedicated STEAM area with tools like VR headsets, iPads, and Chromebooks for homework and learning.
Thank you to Hudson River Community Credit Union for investing in our local youth and supporting our community! Your generosity changes lives!
