THUNDER BAY - The Underground Gym is one step closer to securing its new home with the help of a donation from a local school.
Pope John Paul II donated $2,000 to the Underground Gym, bringing its total fundraising efforts to $67,000 of its $90,000 goal.
“This is going to happen,” said Peter Panetta, founder and operator of the Underground Gym. “It’s just a matter a few days at this pace. Five days, $67,000. It’s unreal. Obviously the community wants this.”
The Underground Gym was forced to find a new location after its previous location on Simpson Street suffered water damage following a fire in an adjacent building last year.
The new location has not been revealed but it’s within a kilometer of the old location.
The money donated by the school came from money donated during dress down days from staff that raised $1,560 and the school raising the rest.
“We choose one charity every year and our heart is with the Underground Gym and their desire to have a building and take care of some of our kids because some of our kids are involved with the underground gym,” said Mary Ellen Cain, a teacher at Pope John Paul II.
“We all need safe places. These kids Peter works with need a safe place. Peter is a safe person and the underground gym is a safe place. For kids its like a second home. It’s a place where they get fed and get to do fun activities.”
Panetta was pleased that the latest donation came from a school, but he said bringing the Underground Gym back has been a community effort.
“The cool thing is kids helping kids,” he said. “It’s coming from the school and the board. That is the kind of support I like. The support up to now has just been average people donating to make this happen. I like that. It’s pretty cool. I like people helping people.”
Donations can be made by e-transfer to undergroundgym@tbaytel.net or by cheque, sent to 634 Simpson St., Thunder Bay, P7C 3J7.
