By Mary Owen
Kids, put on your goggles and get ready to swim!
Eliminated when city officials were forced to make budget cuts, children’s swim lessons are being restored, thanks to an $18,000 grant from the Doris J. Wipper Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation.
“Eric Wiser on behalf of Friends of the Stayton Pool submitted the grant application,” said Christine Shaffer, finance director for the city of Stayton. “The grant was well written, and spoke to the importance of children learning to swim to avoid drowning, and to battle childhood obesity.
“We are honored that the Community Foundation finds this program important and can partner with Friends of the Stayton Pool and the city to provide swim lessons in our community,” she added.
According to Shaffer, the grant, to be implemented over a two-year period, will pay wages for lifeguards and swim instructors as well as provide scholarships to local families that need assistance.
“The pool offers a wide variety of classes targeted at all age groups and is well used,” she said. “The pool has great support in our community.”
Three additional sessions will be added to the pool’s schedule through 2014, with the remainder of the funds allocated for scholarships for qualifying families. The next two-lesson sign-ups will be March 5.
“Families were pleased winter lessons have returned, and we are receiving good feedback,” Shaffer said. “In this first round of lessons, 55 children enrolled and nine scholarships were awarded.”
Friends of the Stayton Pool was launched by Stayton resident Mary Wallace and other dedicated pool users who wanted to help support the facility by raising funds for equipment and services. Funds were raised for a lift chair, exercise equipment, and a state-of-the-art drinking fountain. The Friends also helped get a levy passed that will guarantee funds for continued pool operation and maintenance.
Fundraisers include partnering with Rotary and Kiwanis during SummerFest and Oktoberfest. Other grants are being sought.
The group will host its second annual Spaghetti Dinner will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on March 23 at the Stayton United Methodist Church. Tickets are available in advance at the pool for $7 or at the door for $8; children 6-12, $4.
Friends of the Stayton Pool meets on the second Thursday of the month at the Sigmund Room at the Stayton library. Dues are $12 a year for individual, $35 per family, and $100 for lifetime memberships. Mail-in forms are available at the pool.
For more information or for scholarship applications, visit the city’s website at www.staytonoregon.gov or call the pool at 503-767-7665. Applications must be submitted 48 hours prior to lesson sign-up days.
