New east side Boys and Girls Club to be done by Thanksgiving
by Jim Maurice, WJON.com

ST. CLOUD -- Construction of the new East Side Boys and Girls Club continues to move along.

Mark Sakry is the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Minnesota. He says the building is beginning to take shape.  The new playground equipment has been installed, the floor has been poured for the gym, and the walls have been going up.

Sakry says they still need to raise about $50,000 to pay for the $3.5 million dollar building.

Saukry says about 400 kids use the current East Side Boys and Girls Club building.  However, census figures show about 1,500 kids on the city's east side could potentially use the facility.

The new building will be significantly larger than their current one, so they'll be hiring some additional staff members.   They'll have an emphasis on the arts, so a full-time arts instructor will be hired, as well some other new staff members.

The current east side building is up for sale. Money from the sale of that building will help pay for the operating costs at the new building.


Also, their annual summer benefit is coming-up on August 7th at the Civic Center. Money raised from that event goes towards the operating costs for each of the Boys and Girls Clubs buildings.