BUCYRUS -- The Bucyrus YMCA's main focus is serving the community.
"We are doing more scholarship programs right now than ever before," Bucyrus YMCA Executive Director Matt Bruns said. "We are encouraging people to come in and apply. The program is based on household income and offers free or reduced-price memberships."
The facility also helps current members.
"If someone loses their job, we will work with them," Bruns said. "We have let people use the facility without charging them and we revisit the situation every three months."
Membership rates haven't increased in three years.
"We have frozen our rates for three years even though things like gas prices and minimum wage have increased," Bruns said. "Ohio YMCAs have some of the lowest rates in the country to begin with, and we have one of the lowest rates in the state."
The YMCA took over operation of the Aumiller Park pool four years ago.
"We do not make a profit from the pool. We bill the city for our hours," Bruns said. "We agreed to take over the pool as an outreach program. It is another way we can help serve the community."
Aquatic Director Dan Osmer has seen an increase in the pool's use.
"The city started a Wednesdays program where people can swim for free, he said. "There have been 300 to 900 people there on Wednesdays compared to about 90 on a regular day. This has been a great community service during these economic times," Osmer said.
The YMCA depends on membership fees and donations to keep the facility running.
"We are fortunate to be part of a community that cares about the YMCA," Bruns said. "Funds from United Way help with the scholarship program and we have received donations to help fund our current building renovation project."
The renovation project has four phases and will cost $270,000.
"The first level was the parking lot which was completed last month," Bruns said. "We had it repaved."
The next two phases will be completed during the facility's normal shutdown of the swimming pool area this month.
"We will be painting and doing some foundation work to the walls in the pool area. We will also be putting in some new tiles, grout and light fixtures," Bruns said.
"At the same time, we will be doing work in the gymnasium including refurbishing the gym floor, painting the walls and doing some work to the backboards and wall pads," he said.
The fourth phase will be completed in September.
"We are replacing the roof with a rolled rubber roof. This facility is 33 years-old and these are all things that needed done now to save us money in the future," Bruns said.
The YMCA has been a part of Bucyrus for 105 years.
The current 1655 E. Southern Ave. facility was built in 1977.
"Our building project is being funded through our partnership with the Rotary Auctionfest last spring, a grant through the Bucyrus Area Community Foundation and largely from funds through the Timken Foundation of Canton," Bruns said.
The YMCA is a non-profit organization.
"We depend a lot on our volunteers. We have about 127 volunteers," Bruns said.
Sandra Rostash is the membership director for the facility.
"Our purpose is to serve the community and we want to do that the best way possible," she said.
krlewis@nncogannett.com 419-563-9226