Fire breaks out at St. Paul community center run by Sanneh Foundation
[KSTP]
A Twin Cities nonprofit is asking for help after a fire early Sunday morning damaged a community center it operates on the East Side of St. Paul.
In a post on Instagram, Tony Sanneh, founder and CEO of the Sanneh Foundation, said the city-owned Conway Recreation Center will be out of commission for two to four weeks after a fire damaged the west entrance of the building. The center serves as a base of operations for a number of youth programs.
Sanneh said the St. Paul Fire Department called him at 4 a.m. to break the news.
The Sanneh Foundation said it is working with Mayor Melvin Carter, the Parks and Recreation Department and St. Paul Public Libraries to figure out alternatives while the Conway Recreation Center undergoes repairs.
"With these partners, and the consistent support of our friends and neighbors, we know with absolute confidence that we will be able to adapt and serve the youth in our summer programs during the building’s temporary closure," Sanneh said in a statement. "We are absolutely committed to continuing our mission to provide programs, opportunities and environments that empower youth and improve community well-being without pause, and look forward to when the building is safe to reopen.”
The Sanneh Foundation is accepting donations to support recovery efforts for the Conway Recreation Center.
The St. Paul Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire.