MORGANTOWN — Pat Kennedy, owner of Kennedy’s Gym, has been a fixture in the community for decades.
Kennedy, 77, is facing some personal and professional challenges, and the community recently stepped in to launch an effort to help Kennedy save her business.
Kennedy’s Gym is located in the Clocktower Plaza in Morgantown, just over the Berks County line in Lancaster County. The gym is an “iron gym,” she said — meaning it focuses on weightlifting.
She has devoted the last 33 years to helping area residents get stronger through weightlifting — working with athletes, hosting powerlifting and strongman competitions over the years, including USA Weightlifting-sanctioned meets.
Some of her clients are the children or grandchildren of previous clients.
Lending a helping hand
Kennedy owes $12,000 in back rent for the gym — rent she got behind on during COVID and as she has dealt with the effects of Lyme disease.
She is facing possible eviction and needs to come up with the outstanding balance by Dec. 2.
To help, members of the community launched a GoFundMe fundraiser this month. The goal is to raise $20,000 during November to help Kennedy cover the $12,000 in back rent and legal fees and avoid eviction by GSP Management Co. of Morgantown.
Any amount raised over that would be used to cover future rent and upgrades to the gym, according to Aaron Bostelle, who is coordinating the effort.
Representatives of GSP could not be reached for comment.
Bostelle is the owner of Berks County Books, an online merchant located in the same complex. He has known Kennedy since he was in the ninth grade.
“Pat is simply my friend,” he said. “I was in there as a young man. I do not think she has a single enemy on this planet — she is friendly to everyone. She is such a kind person, it felt like the right thing to do.”
Bostelle said the fundraiser happened “organically.”
“I knew she was in the eviction process,” he said. “I suggested some things, and said there are a lot of people that would like help.”
Kennedy said she initially resisted the idea.
“I said I didn’t want to take people’s money,” she said, adding that Bostelle felt strongly people would want to help.
And they have. As of Friday afternoon, the GoFundMe page showed a total of about $2,700 raised.
But that number is just part of the story.
Kennedy said people have been stopping in to make donations and to urge her to stay.
“People started to come out, all kinds of people. I couldn’t believe how many people contacted me, who haven’t been here for a long time but went through the gym at one time, Kennedy said.
Between the GoFundMe and other donations, the effort has raised about $7,000 so far. Based on conversations Kennedy has had, she feels some are waiting until the end to make a contribution.
“I am just very, very grateful and thankful that they did what they did,” she said.
Bostelle said the response has been “pretty amazing.”
“I am happy to be part of it and help her do it,” he said.
How it got to this point
Kennedy said her financial issues started during the pandemic. Like many, she struggled with the effect of mandated shutdowns. The gym was closed for months in 2020, and when it reopened, the clients didn’t all come back.
As a sole operator with no employees, Kennedywas ineligible for COVID relief options for small-business owners.
Then, in July 2023, she was bitten by a tick and quickly developed symptoms of Lyme disease, which affected her joints. She was forced to close the gym for a month as she battled the symptoms before returning with limited hours.
She also had an allergic reaction to a medication.
The rent got further behind.
“I can still teach and coach and work my regular hours. I have pain in the joints and they’re stiff, but it’s improving.”
Member of the community
Kennedy was born and raised on a farmette on Red School Road, about a mile from the gym — her grandparent’s farm. Over the years she has lived elsewhere, but four years ago she moved back to Morgantown and is living in the farmhouse where her mother was born.
When Kennedy founded Kennedy’s Gym 33 years ago she had already been lifting and competing for about 12 years. She had also been a personal trainer and a bicycle racer. Starting the gym, she said, was a labor of love.
“This is such a rewarding thing. It doesn’t give me a lot of money but it is rewarding. I do love what I do,” she said.
Fundraising effort
The GoFundMe will run through the end of the month. The money is due by Dec. 2. Bostelle said if they raise most of the money but fall short, they will talk with GSP about options.
“We have gotten so far in such a small amount of time — we don’t have much further to go. If people hear how close we are, I feel they will step forward,” he added.
Kennedy remains optimistic.
“I put it in God’s hands — whatever he wants,” she said. “If he wants me to be here, I’ll be here. If he doesn’t want me to be here I will not. But I have the feeling he wants me to be here and that’s why I have fought so hard to keep it going.
“It’s something I need to do for the people. I can’t tell you how many have said, don’t go — stay, please stay.”
At 77, Kennedy could step back from the business but says that is not an option.
“I’m a fighter. I wanted to do something with my life where I could help other people, where I could do something good for other people,” she said, adding that she wants to continue doing things that are worthwhile. “I do enjoy doing this, especially with the kids.”
