The Hatboro YMCA hopes to renovate the gym this fall to make room for a new preschool setup for the special needs gymnastics program. In a collaboration between the Hatboro Rotary Club and the Hatboro YMCA, equipment and a program are being set up to assist special needs children who do gymnastics.
The preschool setup includes a wider balance beam, smaller uneven parallel bars, a lower rings set and smaller boy’s parallel bars.
“Everything’s smaller and lower,” Darlene Malone, gymnastics director, said. “It’s less intimidating.”
Malone said besides intimidation, the special needs children have problems with the distance between the parallel bars and gripping them. While the standard equipment is adjustable, it is not enough.
“It’s just the littlest things,” she said. “I can’t get [the parallel bars] close enough.”
To get the program going, the gym is being expanded to make room for the new equipment. The far wall of the gym will have a section removed where the storage closet is to make it more open.
The renovations and equipment will cost approximately $30,000 and both groups are trying to raise the money to start the project in November, so the program can start in December. So far, they have raised about $5,420 in private and corporate donations, along with a $5,000 grant from YMCA International. The grant requires that $4,000 be used for equipment and $1,000 for training and operational costs.
“Without the money being secure, we can’t do anything,” Malone said. There is still approximately $19,580 they need to raise.
To help fundraise, the YMCA will be hosting bingo in the fall and a car show. Also helping to raise money, the Hatboro-Horsham High School Future Business Leaders of America donated all proceeds from the Easter egg hunt that was held in April and will continue to fundraise in the fall.
Malone hopes to get more grant money. The first attempt to get a grant was through the Pepsi Refresh Project for $50,000, which is how the Hatboro Rotary Club became involved.
“We didn’t win, but still, just getting the support and exposure was enough,” Malone said. After the Pepsi Refresh Project, Malone said, the Rotary Club decided to continue its involvement.
The YMCA and the Rotary Club have also submitted for a grant from Sam’s Club and Walmart for $5,000 and will be applying for a Beneficial Bank grant of $10,000, according to Katrina Sullivan of the Rotary Club. There are also plans for a district grant of $3,000.
“I’m hoping to meet the needs of our members,” Malone said. “That’s the beauty of the [YMCA] … everyone belongs.”
Malone said what encouraged her to create the program was the Montgomery County Special Olympics team, which is hosted at the Hatboro YMCA, and the challenges it has using the standard equipment.
“Everything has snowballed,” Malone said.
Originally, two girls with special needs who were in her regular program pushed her to become involved with the Special Olympics. However, because of that involvement, the number of special needs athletes at the YMCA has increased.
Malone said working with the special needs group is her favorite area.
“They really warm your heart,” she said. “They get so excited.”
For more information, contact the Hatboro YMCA at 215-674-4545.
