Toccoa YMCA to Close for Good October 31st.
By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa
The Toccoa-Stephens County YMCA will close at the end of the month.
On Tuesday, the YMCA board of directors announced their decision to close for good on October 31. Toccoa-Stephens County YMCA CEO Robin Dake says that the decision by the board is a financial one.
“The YMCA depends on community support to run our programs,” said Dake. “In light of economic situations, we found it increasingly difficult to raise the money we need to maintain a quality program.”
Dake does say that the YMCA, located on Big A Road in Toccoa, will remain open for use until the 31st.
“Members will have their privileges all the way through the 31st,” said Dake. “If a member has paid in advance either through this month or beyond that, they have two choices. They can either choose to donate that additional portion to help us wrap things up, or if they want a refund, they can just come to the Y and fill out a form and we will process that refund for them.”
After the 31st, the YMCA will liquidate its equipment as well as its legal and non-profit status. Once done, it will not be possible for the Y to re-open under its current charter.
“The National YMCA will dissolve our charter and we will dissolve as a 501(c)3, so if anybody wanted to restart that, they would have to start the whole process again,” said Dake.
Dake added that the YMCA appreciates all of the support that it has received from the community over the last 18 years.
“We have gotten tremendous support and dedication from our board members, our volunteers, and our staff,” said Dake. “We feel like we have done some really good work in Toccoa and Stephens County and we will deeply, deeply miss being a part of this community.”
The Y has four full-time employees, as well as 20 to 25 part-time employees, positions that will be lost due to the closure.