Tara Forgette receives a check from Sierra Pacific Industries to help with the needed repairs on building.

From Calaveras Enterprise
by Tori James

A leaky roof and rotting siding were among the core structural concerns needing repairs at a beloved center serving one of Calaveras County’s hyper-rural communities.

Blue Mountain Coalition for Youth & Families Executive Director Terra Forgette spoke with the Enterprise about the most recent renovation fundraising campaign of the grassroots nonprofit in West Point to address some very critical concerns. BMCYF, which for over three decades and generations of local residents, continues to provide a safe space and positive activities in service of the local, remote community. It operates five days a week, providing youth programs and enrichment activities as well as community meals.

According to Forgette, a significant donation by longtime supporters Steve and Barbara Cabrol kicked off the efforts. “I told them about the need for repairs to our building and they donated $20,000 hoping it would be matched by other community members,” Forgette recounted. “The primary needs were to replace the leaky roof and rotten siding.”

Over the ensuing months, more than 100 donors contributed to the campaign with gifts ranging from $25 to $20,000, including $12,000 from Sierra Pacific Industries, and $10,000 from Wilton Rancheria.

With the funds raised, the coalition will be working with local contractors to replace the roof, siding and repaint the entire center. “With the additional funds raised we will also be able to put new countertops in our kitchen, and add some new windows to the building,” she shared happily. “If anyone still wants to donate to the cause, we will use the funds to further improve our kitchen, to build a teen room–and build a new playground!”

The executive director shared, “Our initial goal was $58,000. We were optimistic that we could raise the money, but we have been amazed and touched by the generosity of our community.”

She added there will be opportunities for volunteers to help with the kitchen improvements and hopefully playground work.

Founded in 1995 as a teen center, Blue Mountain Coalition for Youth and Families is celebrating over 30 years of serving West Point and the blue mountain region. “Known for many years as the Youth Center, our organization now operates the Blue Mountain Center on Main Street, the West Point Community Garden, the West Point Farmers Market and KQBM Blue Mountain Radio,” Forgette said with quiet pride. “The Blue Mountain Coalition works to enrich life in our community by providing a healthy environment and positive activities for the youth and families in the upcountry region.

“Our Blue Mountain Center provides enrichment for more than 110 local kids,” she continued. “We also operate a community meals program which provides free, healthy dinners to more than 60 people every Tuesday and Thursday evening at our center.”

All of the coalition’s programs are free and open to everyone. While it currently has grants that fund most of its youth programs, the meals program, community garden, KQBM radio and other programming depend on private donations. Additionally, as part of its mission to fill gaps in services, the center provides a hub for regional services and resources, connecting local residents with organizations including MACT Health, First 5, The Resource Connection, county public health, the library, and other community partners.

In order to operate the center five days per week and provide enough staff to run its after school program, meals and other activities, the coalition must raise a minimum of $100,000 per year. “We currently have a large grant from Elevate Youth CA, which funds our youth programs. However, that grant will expire in December. Finding grants to fund our nonprofit organization and community programs is a constant challenge,” she stated. “The only support we can count on year to year, is the support of our community.”

Staff and volunteers are currently looking for 100 businesses and generous individuals who are able to commit to being major donors with an annual donation of $1000. The commitment of $1000 per year, or $84 per month, as she put it, would enable the organization to plan for the future.

“Our next big dream is to give the kids in our area a real playground,” she confided. “Every day, local families come to Blue Mountain Center to use our small, sad playground which currently includes a rusty swings set and broken climbing dome. The only other playground space in the area is at West Point School, which is not accessible for public play.”

She maintained that a new playground would double the available outdoor play space for Blue Mountain Coalition’s afterschool program, youth activities, and community events, providing local children with additional opportunities for active play, exploration, and social interaction.

“Beyond organized programs, this playground will remain open and accessible to families every day, offering a safe, inviting place where children can play and families can gather whenever they choose,” she continued. “We estimate that a new Blue Mountain Center playground will provide a safe play space for more than 250 children and families per year. In a rural community with few public recreation opportunities, this space will become an important community asset that is available to everyone. Community playgrounds provide safe spaces where children can be active, develop physical skills, and build friendships through imaginative and cooperative play.”

For more information about the coalition, what it does and ways to support it, visit bmcyf.org or reach out to Forgette directly at the center for more information.

Asked if the had anything else she wanted people to know about the coalition, she replied, “We would just like to express our sincere appreciation to our community and to everyone who is supporting our organization and other nonprofits in our region. Every dollar donated, every hour volunteered, and every story told makes a difference.

“All of these renovations and improvements will ensure that we can continue to provide a safe, healthy space where youth, families, seniors can connect with resources and with each other,” she emphasized. “In small rural towns like ours, nonprofits often do the work filling the gaps to contribute to the quality of life. I would encourage your readers to look at all the local nonprofits that are doing that in our region and support them as much as they can.”