In a surprise, YMCA in Voorhees to close
A letter given to parents cited financial problems at the organization's final Camden County facility.
The only YMCA in Camden County will close at the end of the day next Friday because of financial problems.
Word of the closure surfaced when parents picking up their children yesterday from after-school care were greeted with a letter that read: "The operating deficits and lack of available cash make it untenable for the YMCA to continue operating the Voorhees facility at this time."
Yesterday's news follows the closing of the Camden branch last summer.
The letter did not go into dollar amounts about the financial situation but offered this explanation: The inability to sell the building in Camden has led to the financial shortfalls that resulted in the necessity to close the Voorhees facility.
The letter, dated Wednesday, states that the Y's board has decided to suspend operations at the Voorhees facility "effective at the closing of the business day on Friday, Feb. 1, 2008, until we can reorganize our finances."
Whether the building would ever reopen, or be sold was not clear from the letter, and officials yesterday did not respond to requests to comment.
The letter goes on to note that after reorganization the YMCA would focus on "program-based" operations, meaning that it would continue classes and similar programs at other locations.
"Our Camp Moore operation as well as off-site after-school care and fitness classes will continue during the suspension of operations of the Voorhees facility," the letter stated. It did not, however, offer any details, including location, about the other sites.
In recent years, the facility, which boasts in its letterhead, "We build strong kids, strong families and strong communities," has had more than 4,000 members.
The news that the sprawling, two-story building at 120 Britton Place, near the Echelon Mall, was closing was disappointing news to the patrons arriving yesterday to pick up their children from after-school care.
"I just found out," said Edie Derman, 48, of Chews Landing, who brings her 5-year-old each day to the facility.
"It's a hardship. I work full time in Marlton," Derman said. "I dropped my child off on the way to work. Suddenly there is no place to go."
In the letter officials apologized to members, but those affected yesterday did not seem heartened by the apology.
"I'm heart-broken," said Gloria Richardson, 37, of Cedar Brook, N.J. "I've looked for a long time for a center of this magnitude. . . . I work full time, and my husband and I rely on it for affordable child care."