A free block party will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot at the America and Roby Anderson Community Center, 421 McClure Road in Columbus.
The event is designed to encourage local residents to meet the center’s new board members and build awareness of the center’s planned future work, according to board president Beth Turner. Ideally, when the center leadership can rebuild the budget, they would like to schedule children’s activities, after-school homework assistance, health screenings and financial literacy assistance.
“We’re hoping for good weather,” Turner said.
The event will include free hotdogs, chips, popcorn, sno cones and drinks. Financial donation buckets will be placed on the premises for those who want to help the cause. Plus, information sheets about the center’s mission will be available.
“We’re still struggling to make ends meet,” Turner said.
That’s especially true since the air-conditioning quit working Wednesday. It will take an estimated $5,000 to replace, according to Turner.
A $7,000 grant from the local Custer-Nugent Foundation two months ago helped matters. But the center has been closed for some time because of COVID-19 and financial and other challenges. The facility’s monthly expenses are about $1,500 per month, Turner said.
Besides Turner, the center’s new officers are Jason Anderson, vice president; Cindy Olson, secretary; and Matt Ortman, treasurer.
Over the years, the center has been a key cog for area residents’ daily fellowship, remote library book checkout, homework help, financial literacy training, community meals and much more. Some have said that they have built relationships with board members there and trust them for a range of assistance.
