Jamestown Learns about Local Programs

Representatives from several important community organizations spoke to members of the Jamestown Rotary Club at various meetings in August, providing an overview on both the services they provide and also an update on some key projects happening in the community. The guests all illustrated how they work with other individuals and groups in the community to fully maximize their efforts to address various needs.

On August 4, the club learned details about the Jamestown YMCA’s new building project, thanks to a presentation from John Barber, Jamestown Area YMCA interim CEO, and Dr. Daniel DeMarte, president of Jamestown Community College. The YMCA and JCC are currently working on a building project that would serve both of their populations and their united goals of promoting youth development, healthy lifestyles and educational advancement. The current YMCA building in downtown Jamestown was built in 1929 and has several building and programming issues. It has old wires, old pipes and is not ADA compliant. At one point, the YMCA had proposed constructing a brand new facility on Winsor Street in Jamestown, with an estimated cost of $33-40 million. Due to a lack of funding, the YMCA opted to instead collaborate with JCC to develop a new Community Wellness Center, which will be located on the JCC Jamestown Campus, with an estimated shared cost of $45 million. This collaboration was due to the JCC Physical Education building also showing its age and in need of significant repairs and upgrades. Dr. Demarte indicated that JCC has a strong athletic program and is currently losing potential athletes because of its outdated structure. The planned new facility will have separate spaces for each organization, as well as shared spaces. The two organizations are 18 months into their partnership. Initial state funding for the design phase has been approved. Both the YMCA and JCC must complete their fund raising and return to the state for final approval.  

On August 11, members heard from Misti Allen, the local district executive of Scouting America, formerly known as The Boy Scouts of America. Misti shared various details about Scouting America, the different programs involved with the organization, and her role with the local district, having joined the staff in 2024. The local district's territory covers all of Chautauqua County and half of Cattaraugus County. She said the mission of the organization is "Scouting is fun with a purpose", with a goal of raising awareness of various opportunities in the community, while also helping to build leadership skills and general life skills. Scouting America engages and collaborates with various organizations, including the YMCA and the Jamestown Community College Manufacturing Institute. Other groups include Veterans agencies and Public Safety. Misti said one of the most important programs is Scout Reach, which works to serve underprivileged and underserved areas on Chautauqua County. This includes both rural areas and within the city. She said the program has been very effective, reaching out to over 900 youth. Much of that is due to support from local funders, including the United Way of Chautauqua County and the Sheldon Foundation. Misti explained that an important focus of Scouting America is to teach skills revolving around STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), but she also added that the Arts are also sometimes focused on, to help inspire creativity. 

On August 18, The club hear from Kathy Park, who is the director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) – Chautauqua. CASA provides very important work across the county, advocating for children in the local court system. CASA volunteers work with case workers, teachers, and medical professionals to determine the best situation for the child. Currently, there are 19 active volunteers, helping 41 children adjust to life in foster care and in the court system. These children have been abused and/or neglected and need someone to advocate for them in the courts. Since CASA began in Jamestown in 2003, more than 160 volunteers have helped over 450 children. The volunteers receive 30 hours of training and take an oath in court. Some are known to “burn out after 2-3 years,” but eight volunteers have been with the program for 7-14 years.

And on August 25, representatives from Community Helping Hands were guests and shared details about the program and how it serves the greater Jamestown Community. Speaking to the group was Shawn Whitmer, executive director, and Carol Hay, board member. Community Helping Hands helps clients recommended by Salvation Army and other similar groups, providing them with household items and clothes. The staff and volunteers work hard to speak with the people they help, knowing that clients may never have been in the situation they are in, with hopes that they will be able to work themselves out of it with help from groups like Community Helping Hands. Community Helping Hands (CCH) has helped 3500 people, 1200 of them children, in the past year. The organization partners with the Resource Center, which brings their clients to learn about retail and to help the CHH organize the retail shop. Other volunteers include Social Service recipients, the Creche, Wegmans and United Way individuals. Any group that would like to do service together for a time period are welcome to contact Shawn. The organization is currently located in the Gateway Center on Water Street in Jamestown, a former manufacturing facility. That building is 196,000 square-feet and is undergoing a major, $77 million renovation project, known as the Gateway Lofts, to convert it into housing units. Shawn provided an update on the project, saying it is moving forward and hopes to be completed in the next couple years.