Nanuet Gym Seeks Informed Volunteer To Assist with Handicap Upgrades

As times change, buildings have to be updated to meet the needs of the current and future generations. The Nanuet Family Resource Center Gym, formerly the St. Agatha Gym, needs renovation, especially the bathrooms.

FRC Director RoseAnn Mercado reached out to the Nanuet Lions and is asking for help from the community.

“(The FRC) is a small not-for-profit. What we basically do is service the families in the Nanuet Family School District. We do a variety of different things from after-school programs to parenting classes,” said Mercado.  “The old St. Agatha gym on Convent Road in Nanuet, our not-for-profit is running that now for the past five years and what we do is charge a fee for certain groups to come in, but then our special needs groups, we don’t charge. We have Special Olympics in there every Wednesday night.”

The Special Olympics has children county-wide participating. Mercado is looking for someone who is knowledgeable about building maintenance, repair and upgrades—particularly pertaining to children with disabilities—to volunteer their time and advice.

“Every dime that I’ve made since (the FRC) took over has gone back into the gym. The drains had to be replaced, the roof had to be re-tarred, the floors had to be redone. Slowly but surely we’re (upgrading) this stuff, but the children are in there now using this stuff,” said Mercado. “We could use donations. However, the thing is, I am not handy so I don’t know anything about plumbing or fixing to guide me. I would love someone who has knowledge of a building to come in. I don’t have a 10-year plan for this gym.”

She added that if the gym wasn’t open, Special Olympics would not exist in this county. Her major concern is the gym’s restroom facilities.

“Because the gym is the original ‘everything,’ I’m concerned about our bathrooms because our bathrooms cannot meet the needs of the people using it. It’s not wheelchair accessible,” said Mercado. “I’m reaching out to the community to see if there is any way we can work together and get people that actually know plumbing and the regulations that bathrooms need for these children.”

However, other parts of the gym that also needs work as well.

“There’s one step up so there definitely needs to be a ramp to get into the gym,” she said. “The children are using it more and more.”

The gym is a full-size basketball court with several layers of bleachers on one side and a girl and boys restroom. It also a few back rooms that Mercado hopes to use some day as a conference room or entertainment area for the kids.

Those that can help can contact RoseAnne Mercado at Rmercado@NanuetSD.org