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Staff Writer WEST SPRINGFIELD - The West Springfield Teen Center has faced many obstacles recently that include a shortage of staff and a falling roof but it's now on the verge of a comeback. "The problem currently is there is no staff. The director left," Kim Hunter, Board member and founder of the Teen Center, said to Reminder Publications. In addition, Hunter said the Center struggled with a failed roof. The roof was put on the building in the late 90's and guaranteed for 30 years. When it failed it left the Center with a financial burden. "There was rain water on the TV's and the carpets," Hunter said. "It was a nightmare and we were looking at a $30-40,000 job, we had it." Hunter said the Center received assistance when a company, asking to remain anonymous, donated the products for the roof and requested payment only for labor. "The labor ended up being a third of the cost," Hunter said. The Center raises funds by renting the facility to church groups and charging a fee for teen dances. Some funds are also donated through the local Rotary Club. The Center was started in 1995 as a non-profit. Hunter said it was originally conceived in 1993 by a group of people that included herself, upon her graduation from high school. "There wasn't a lot of places for kids to hang out," she said. "It is a place for the kids that don't do a lot of things that would be getting into trouble. There is a large portion of kids that need it because they don't have anywhere to go. It is to keep kids in an environment that is free from drugs." The search is currently on for two positions within the Center. One is the recently vacated director position and the second is for a newly created position, a program coordinater. "We are looking for someone who can stay with the program with a commitment of three years," Hunter said. To inquire about either position e-mail wstcjob1@yahoo.com "Once the staff is there, we will resume the after school Coffee House every day from 2 - 6 p.m." Hunter said. | ||||||
