Published: November 05, 2009 11:21 pm         

West Vigo athletic teams donate to Community Center lighting project

Center wants new lights in gym

WEST TERRE HAUTE — The West Vigo Community Center has been raising funds for a project to put new lighting in its gymnasium.

Fliers described the project as an effort to get the community center “out of the dark ages,” said Chuck Lindner, an Americorps volunteer working with the community center on the lighting and several other projects.

On Thursday, West Vigo High School athletic teams donated $900 to the project, in which various groups and individuals are sponsoring lights at a cost of $150 each.

The high school student-athletes “are donating to help the community center where they played as youngsters,” Lindner said. “If we can make it better here, it will help them in the long run at the high school.”

The community center has raised the $2,250 needed for the 15 light fixtures, but the center hopes to raise at least another $250 for other materials to complete the project, Lindner said. Labor will be donated.

“The project will make the gym brighter, and the lights will be more energy efficient,” Lindner said.

Mike Miller, West Vigo High School’s athletic director, told students, “We’re always asking the community to do something for us. This is a small way to try to pay something back.”

The teams donated money from existing accounts.

Other groups donating include the high school’s class of 2012 and a wrestling club.