Boys, Girls club heavily damaged, reopens at McFadden on The Murfreesboro Post

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Boys, Girls club heavily damaged, reopens at McFadden

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By: MIKE PIRTLE, Post Publisher

Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2009 6:58 pm

Boys, Girls club heavily damaged, reopens at McFadden | tornado, Jackson Heights, BGRC

Volunteers continue work at the Boys and Girls Club on Jones Boulevard.

The storm that blew across Jackson Heights Shopping Center Saturday evening also took a huge bite out of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Rutherford County’s Murfreesboro facility.
The storm ripped the roof off the gym and Puckahuddle play area, smashed the baseball field's concession stand, damaged the outdoor pavilion and left massive water damage throughout the Jones Boulevard building.

Overall damage will easily exceed a million dollars, Dan Jernigan, chief professional officer, said Sunday night around 6 p.m. after a long day that started at 7 a.m. The storm that stopped the facility’s clock at 6:55 p.m. won’t stop the club. The Murfreesboro unit of the county’s Boys and Girls Clubs will be in operation as usually today, just at a different location.

The City of Murfreesboro has made the McFadden Youth Center available for the club’s use starting Monday. The club will be returning to its roots as the McFadden Center at 211 Bridge Avenue served as the club’s home site for many years before the Jones Boulevard building was built.

“Even though the physical location has changed, the same philosophy, the same programs for the children will be in effect,” Jernigan said. The club will be in operation as usual Monday afternoon and, in fact, will hold a celebration with its member children.

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“That’s what the Boys and Girls Club is. It’s not a physical location; it’s the children, the programs, the staff,” Jernigan said.

“The good thing is so many people have stepped up to help us out,” he added, citing the city’s offer of the use of McFadden, numerous volunteers who showed up Sunday to help with the storm damage and the offer from Chuck Lewis at First Bank to allow the club’s administration operations to use the bank’s second floor.

The storm ”took the roof off our facility, but it did not hurt this organization. The Boys and Girls Club and what it stands for and believes in will continue as always because of the support of this community,” Jernigan said.

He said he received a phone call Saturday evening from the Murfreesboro’s unit director Derek Blake who said a friend had just called to say the club had been hit and the roof was on the football field to the north of the club. Jernigan discovered the roof had been pulled off the gym, Puckahuddle and others parts of the building, the baseball field concession stand was demolished with its roof landing on the large pavilion in the back, heavily damaging it, and water damage was widespread.

The building may have sustained some structural damage, and “anything on top of brick we will have to redo, plus there’s lots of water damage,” Jernigan said. The community can help by keeping “us in their prayers and on their minds,” he said, noting the need for arts and crafts and educational supplies and athletic equipment.

Jernigan said the community could also help by supporting the club's upcoming Steak and Burger fundraiser that will now be held at a new location.
The event will be held April 16 with Lonise Bias, a woman thrust into community activism after the untimely deaths of her sons, including top professional basketball prospect Len Bias. Tickets are available from club directors and at the Web site, bgcrc.net. The club’s also has a major capital campaign under way to build a new club facility in Smyrna.

“The children need us. Hopefully the transition to McFadden will be a smooth one,” Jernigan said.

Tagged under BGRC, Jackson Heights, tornado

Member Opinions:

By: Wandawoo on 3/30/09
I live a few blocks from where most of the damage occured. I'd like to commend our community for pulling together and helping get roofs covered and debri removed. I'd also like to thank the Murfreesboro Electric for getting our power restored in only a few hours. I am proud to call Rutherford County and Murfreesboro my home.
Wanda Woodard

By: MBOLIN on 3/31/09
My children attend the RCBGC, and I would like to express how proud I am of all the men and women there. They wont let Mother Nature take anything away from our kids! The pep rally yesterday was a great way to get the kids excited about their temporary location! Great job guys we love you all very much! Just to name a few Mr. Derrick, Ms. Jenny, Ms. Regina, Mr.Alden, Mr. Nick, and Mr. Abby YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU ALL