DERRY — A nonprofit group hopes to raise about a million dollars over the next few months to build the town's new senior center.
John Moody, president of Nutfield Senior Center Corp., revealed plans for the 5,000-square-foot center yesterday during a meeting with trustees and the contractor. It would be built as an addition to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Derry.
"It's going to look like the existing Boys & Girls Club," he said.
Inside the addition would be a cafe-style kitchen, reading room, health room, exercise room and a couple of offices.
But the best feature of the location is that seniors would also be able to use the 30,000 square feet in the current building when the children aren't there, Moody said.
"We'll be working with them to coordinate schedules," he added.
Another meeting has been scheduled for the nonprofit group next month to hopefully hire a marketing and fundraising consultant so they can begin collecting donations, Moody said.
He also plans to ask the Town Council to release $55,000 set aside two years ago for the center.
If they can establish an aggressive fundraising campaign, Moody said, the group would start construction in June or September.
"We want to make sure we minimize the impact on the Boys & Girls Club while the kids are there," Moody said.
The children's organization runs summer and after-school programs.
The project recently overcame a major hurdle when the federal government approved the center's environmental review.
The approval means almost $400,000 in federal grant money would be available to the center. The money can't be used for construction, but will pay for a director and programs for the center.
Moody said they would try to use local contractors as much as possible to help the community.
Nutfield Senior Center Corp. announced its plans to build at the Boys & Girls Club in November 2008 after years of searching for a suitable home.
The new building would provide a central location where seniors could easily participate in programs. Seniors have gathered for years at locations such as the Marion Gerrish Community Center for meals and bingo.
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