After a six-month hiatus due to insufficient funding, The HUB in Langley will reopen on Monday, Jan. 23.
Hank Hall, executive director at The HUB, said $20,278 was donated by the community during the hiatus and will help keep the after-school drop-in center open for the rest of the school year.
“It looks like we’re back up and running,” Hall said. “…We’re absolutely thrilled.”
The HUB closed in May 2016 — the second time in the past decade — and cut off a source of free food, fun and entertainment for students. Bruce Allen, president of The HUB board, said the board has learned from the past two closures and will make efforts to ensure it does not happen again. Because of the donations, The HUB’s board of directors has the next seven months to conduct fundraisers and write grants to ensure it is financially stable for the foreseeable future.
Allen, a 76-year-old Langley resident who is also a city councilman, also added that he would like to step away from The HUB if it becomes stable.
Hall agreed, adding that The HUB is in a better financial situation than in the past and that new board members will help sustain The HUB.
“We’re a lot more stable than we were,” Hall said. “We have attracted some excellent new board members that I’m absolutely thrilled to work with.”
Shelly Rempa will serve as The HUB’s new manager. Rempa is a parent of kids who have used The HUB in the past, which she said will help provide a better perspective for how to help those who use it.
“One of the things that I am looking forward to is creating a coalition of agencies around the kids that they can use and access,” Rempa said.
Another new member is Stacy Wick, who Allen said will be a strong asset in fundraising efforts.
Allen said two fundraisers scheduled for next week at Langley United Methodist Church will benefit The HUB; a sold-out poetry reading by David Whyte is set for Jan. 26, while the annual Salmon Dinner is scheduled for the following day from 5-7 p.m. on Jan. 27.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Shelly Rempa is on the board of directors. Also, Board member Stacy Wick’s first name was incorrect.
