With a little elbow grease, local volunteers helped begin the makeover process Saturday in preparation for some new tenants at the building previously used by the Richmond Hill YMCA.
Those new tenants, Bryan County Family Connection (BCFC) and United Way Bryan County (UWBC), hope to use the building at 9611 Ford Ave. behind the Richmond Hill Public Library to house service agencies like rape crisis, legal aid and more – services that aren’t currently based in Bryan County, BCFC Director Wendy Sims said.
Sims said after she and UWBC Director Janice Blunt spoke at a county commission meeting and said they needed a space in South Bryan for such activities, County Administrator Phil Jones told her this county facility could be used for just that.
“It’s a dream come true because when we do need certain services we have to go to Savannah, so hopefully this will eliminate the need for that,” she said.
Sims said the building will also be a great place to prepare for the Bryan County Children’s fund, where BCFC donates toys at Christmastime to needy children and families throughout the county.
Blunt said they are still deciding on what specific agencies to house in the building, especially because the news came rather quickly.
“We’re excited about it, and it just hit us so fast. We found out on Thursday and then found out about the volunteers and we’re excited to have the volunteers,” Blunt said Saturday.
Read more in the Sept. 28 edition of the News.