Filling Station nears completion of expanded facility

February 18, 2009

By JoAn Bjarko

The Wellington

 

A $300,000 expansion of a nonprofit youth club and family center could open to the public this summer.

Construction work to add 5,500 square feet of usable space to the original 1,400 square feet at the Wellington (Colorado) Filling Station started about five years ago. The facility at Cleveland Avenue and Fourth Street, which provides activities for youth and other community events, takes its name from the property’s former use — a gas station.

The expansion has been a work of love and faith, with much of the cost covered by donated labor and materials. Construction challenges included installation of a fire-sprinkler system and building a roof to span the old and new buildings. Bringing more electricity to the building will also be a significant cost because the Xcel transformer needs to be upgraded.

The Filling Station opened in 2003 as an outreach of River of Life Fellowship in Wellington. It became part of a separate nonprofit, Joshua Griffin Ministries, in 2004. Griffin serves as the volunteer president and executive director. His wife, Jennifer, serves as secretary and treasurer of the nonprofit. They work with a four-member board of directors and 10 other volunteer part-time staff. Many others in the community help as needed.

Because construction has proceeded only as funds and materials become available, the addition will be debt free when it opens.

“Without the people side by side, we could never do it,” Griffin said.

Griffin encourages community residents who have ideas for events or classes at the expanded Filling Station to call him at 581-8112. He is already thinking about opportunities for live theater, concerts and more game nights. He also wants to offer a supervised summer program for teens, both boys and girls, dealing with anger issues.

“When you successfully learn how to work together, you get a lot more done,” Griffin said.

That’s a philosophy he wants to continue as the Filling Station grows along with the town. Griffin said his goal is to find ways to draw community resources together. For example, the Filling Station’s annual X-treme Day of fun events in August also acknowledged the work of student community-service teams called Got What It Takes.

At this time, the Filling Station is open on Friday evenings for youth ages 12 to 19 to stop by and play games. Doors open at 5 p.m., to be available when the Boys & Girls Club across the street closes at 6 p.m., and game time is scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m.

Last summer, the Filling Station sponsored several movie nights in Centennial Park, located across the street, and it plans to do that again this summer.

“It was really fun to watch the families come out,” Griffin said.

On Saturday nights, the Filling Station is open for families from 6 to 10 p.m. There’s music, Bible study for teens and parents, and lots of food.

The Filling Station also has a tutor and certified counselor who meet with people by appointment. More information is available by calling 568-7480. There is a minimal fee.

The Griffins’ livelihood comes from a sign-making business, Dynamic Image, but both Joshua and Jennifer are ordained ministers.

She leads a women’s group the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7 p.m. He leads a men’s group the first and third Wednesdays at 7 p.m. While Joshua spends much of his time with Wellington’s youth, Jennifer enjoys meeting with women and organizing community events.

“It’s a lot of work, but there is great satisfaction to see it all come together and see people having a good time,” she said.

Jennifer Griffin also counsels people struggling with difficult issues in life. “I have a real heart for the women,” she said.