A Minnesota YMCA opened its doors one last time this past weekend to say goodbye to members and give away remaining equipment.
Residents lined up outside the downtown Rochester YMCA to snap up everything from office chairs to free weights.
“I got some things to spar with my friends, brothers, and all that. Have some fun with them. Got a garbage can and an office chair for my grandma,” Rochester resident Kayden Klingerman told the local NBC affiliate.
Some came in search of equipment for their athletic departments.
“We were just looking for anything to help our student athletes and our students to just try to find ways to improve athletics. We have some dumbbell racks. We have some mats,” LeRoy-Ostrander athletic director & dean of students Trevor Carrier said.
Some people waited for hours outside the facility.
“I was at the back of the line for the first part. I’m surprised I even got anything,” Klingerman said.
YMCA staff members said the event was bittersweet.
“We saw nothing but smiles. People were just really thrilled that the YMCA was able to open up their doors one last time for them to come into the facility and also take home with them some of the things they enjoyed while they were here at the YMCA,” YMCA VP of Operations Mike Lavin said.
The YMCA team is planning to partner with different groups in the community to bring its mission to other organizations.
“We have so many wonderful options going forward. We’re working with the community in places and spaces, figuring out what the new iteration of the Y will be,” YMCA executive director for community engagement Kristina Lemmer said.
Although the YMCA is now closed, the Y’s Early Childhood Learning Center which serves more than one hundred kids a day is still up and running for the community.
