The Schenectady Hindu Temple and Community Center’s bright orange exterior would likely catch anyone’s eyes as they walk past. The inside of the building is just the same — cheerful colors such as light pink line some of the walls.
The temple, originally St. Thomas Church, has been refurbished and renovated to meet the community’s needs. Now there’s a push to acquire the house next to the center so it can continue expanding to benefit the community.
The house was previously a rectory for St. Thomas Church before it was sold. The hope is that once it’s repurchased, it can become a food pantry and space for children after school, said George Ramson, treasurer of the center, which serves many in Schenectady’s Guyanese community.
“We find that most of the time the pantries are on the other side of the city,” Ramson said.
The focus of that space would serve to spotlight the work the center is already doing. It’s considered the hub of the community — a place for worship, education, food and help, Ramson said.
That sentiment was obvious earlier this month when the center held a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in the basement of the temple as tables lined the stage where dancers would normally perform.
Ramson, who moved to Schenectady in the 1970s to attend the University at Albany, ended up staying in the area to work and build a life here. He became involved with former Schenectady Mayor Al Jurczynski’s plan to bring people of Guyanese descent to the area from New York City after seeing abandoned homes that needed owners and businesses that needed employees.