JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Some YMCA members will no longer be able to go to their local branch.
Action News Jax Courtney Cole explains the financial strain of COVID-19 has forced the Flagler Center branch, to close its doors.
“We closed down all of our branches in mi- March, and we re-opened in mid-May,” Penny Zuber said.
She’s the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for First Coast YMCA.
But during that period, Zuber told Action News Jax a lot of their members and program participants, canceled.
“We’ve lost over $7 million dollars,” said Zuber.
Even though some of their members did return, it wasn’t enough for the Flagler Center to stay up-and-running.
“It’s been open for 14 years. It’s one of our...really a special branch. The bond between our members and the staff really has been just totally special,” Zuber said.
Zuber told Cole the Flagler Center location is not like the rest of their branches.
It only offers group exercise classes and childcare. But there are five other locations for members, within a 15-minute drive.
Zuber told Cole COVID-19 also forced them to furlough 1600 of their 1700 employees.
But so far they’ve been able to bring 1100 of them back to work.
Zuber told Action News Jax the Flagler location is the only location they’ve had to close in Duval County.
All other branches are open but have had to cut back on operating hours.
Zuber tells me they will continue to review and analyze as more members return and will adjust accordingly.
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