Thanks to a donation from the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County now has a brand new gymnasium floor.
And thanks to the volunteer labor of more than 20 Lowe’s employees and Club teens over the summer, the gymnasium is ready just in time for the new school year.
The Club’s 4,800 sq.ft. gymnasium is utilized by hundreds of children and teens every day for a variety of activities including sports and recreation. As the largest room in the Club, the gym also is used as a multi-purpose space for special events such as holiday dinners and career fairs.
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“At Lowe's, we take great pride in improving the communities we serve. We work hard to be good neighbors and we're committed to supporting efforts that enrich the lives of our neighbors and customers such as the Boys and Girls Club,” said Brian Bartlett, store manager of Lowe’s in Hamilton.
Renovations began in late August, as volunteers from the Lowe's store in Hamilton traveled to the Boys & Girls Club to remove its old gym floor, repaint the gym walls, and get the building ready for the school year. They received help from nine Keystone Club members, the Club’s service program for teens.
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When the demolition was complete, contractors from the Sports Court of New Jersey, a company which specializes in building gymnasiums, installed the Club’s new gym floor. Boys & Girls Club members and Lowe’s volunteers celebrated with ribbon-cutting festivities on Sept. 16.
“We are very thankful to Lowe’s employees for donating their valuable time and enabling us to provide an essential improvement to our Club just in time for the new school year,” said David E. Anderson, the Club’s executive director.
As part of the Boys & Girls Club Triple Play Program to promote healthy lifestyles, kids can participate in many fitness activities including soccer, flag football, basketball, cheerleading, and lacrosse. The Club also teaches youths healthy living habits and basic cooking skills through the Triple Play program.
About the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation
Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. Since 2009, the Lowe’s foundation has donated more than $4 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to improve facilities and learning opportunities at clubs across the United States. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.
About the Boys and Girls Club of Mercer County
The Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County provides children and teens with educational enrichment, career preparation, and recreational activities through after-school, weekend, and summer programs. The Club serves 2,300 youths annually at 15 program locations including its Trenton facility at 212 Centre Street, eight elementary schools, three high schools, and three social entrepreneurial business locations. Lowe’s $28,000 grant toward the Club’s $54,000 gymnasium project is part of a $1 million gift to Boys & Girls Clubs of America to support improvements in local Clubs across the country. For more information, visit www.bgcmercer.org.
