We will be opening to the community very s!!!
Arenac Community Center Update
Dear Community Members,
We are making some changes to the Community Center. We are going to open the building up to the community! The following are some of the changes we will be making to serve the community as a whole.
Effective February 2, 2024, we are discontinuing the “After School Program” at the Arenac Community Center. The reasons are two-fold: Due to changes in funding and resources, we cannot continue to run this program at a deficit. The cost of food, staffing and supplies outweigh the student fees, and an increase in fees has not been well received. To that end, and with the opportunities that lay before us, these two reasons have helped us to make this difficult decision.
Rental fees, membership dues, grants and donations will be our new source of income. This new strategy will closely mirror that of other community centers. Our schedules for Space Rentals, and Planned Activities will soon be updated to our website and Facebook platform.
What is good, stays with more to come, however, rental rates will apply - The Diaper Pantry, 4-H programing, and space for our senior citizens are all services we would like to keep on premises.
Gym rentals will be available for weddings, showers, civic events, parties for graduation and birthdays, family reunions, funeral dinners and more. Our meeting room is available for rent to our local civic and governmental organizations. The kitchen is available for a rental fee as well.
Serving families has always been important to us, so many opportunities will be scheduled for family activities, like game nights, dancing lessons, educational workshops, and arts and craft shows.
Memberships will allow for walking groups, use of the library, exercise equipment room, and free access to certain events.
We understand that the closure of the “After-School Program” will be a disappointment for some, however, we believe that repurposing the center to its full potential will create new opportunities for engagement and enrichment for all segments of our community.
We are so thankful to the Bay Area Community Foundation, the Arenac Community Funds, Forward Corporation, The ARC, and the many local businesses, organizations and individuals who so generously invested in our outside nature park. The park now includes a pavilion, an octa ball ring, a gravity swing, a pickle/basketball court, and a paved walkway. The older playground equipment has been painted and looks great. Still on the to-do list, as the weather improves, is the installation of signage honoring our donors and the painting of the pickle ball court. Stay tuned for upcoming communications.
Thank you All for your continued support!
Yours in community,
Arenac Community Center Board
Project Fitness
A.C.C. raises over $20K to earn Forward Corp. match
Forward Corp. President Abby Moniz presented the Arenac Community Center with a check for $20,000 Friday that marked the conclusion of a fund-matching campaign Forward pledged to the center earlier this year.
From March 1 through April 30, the center raised $35,700.21 in donations from area community members and businesses directed towards the support of “Project Fitness,” a campaign that will add a playscape, gazebo, walking path, and dog park to the community center. In February, Forward announced it would match up to $20,000 in donations made during that time, which brings the total raised to almost $56,000.
“We are beyond thrilled that the community stepped up in support of this project and the center,” said Shara Klenk, director for the Arenac Community Center. “Forward’s contribution, plus the additional money we raised will go a long ways towards bringing Project Fitness to life. We are so grateful to everyone involved.”
Construction is scheduled to begin later this year on the on-site park that will create additional recreational space for the center, as well as trigger additional eligibility for further grants and funding.
“The community center is a wonderful resource for this area and one we are proud to support,” Moniz said. “It’s inspiring to see community members come together to bring this to life.”
The Arenac Community Center opened in 2019 thanks to the efforts of local citizens who saw a need for more community programs and facilities. The center offers a variety of programs, meeting space, recreational activities, and after-school programs.
Donations are Being Accepted!
You can Donate by mail as well. Please send to the Arenac Community Center, P.O. Box 827, Standish, MI 48658
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