Last Saturday more than 200 people joined in the fun and festivities that kicked off a capital campaign to expand the Grove City branch of the YMCA. Staff and volunteers were on hand to educate the community about the plans for expansion.

“We are expanding to meet the needs of the growing community,” said Dorry Foster, CEO of the Grove City and Franklin branches.

“An average of 140 kids a day pass through our doors after school, and with the new junior high school (being built behind the Y) we will have potentially 500 more students to serve,” Foster said.

The youth sports programming is also at capacity, according to a letter written by campaign chair Dave Cashdollar and co-chair Doug Bashline, sometimes running more than 10 hours a day to accommodate all participants.

Foster said the total project including a 30,000-square-foot addition is estimated to cost about $4.3 million as it stands now.

“Our goal was to open by September 2011, but that’s not going to happen,” said Foster. “When we have enough funds, we will raise the building.”