Posted Thursday September 2, 2010 -- 5:00 p.m.

Just a few months ago the Taft Street Boys and Girls Club looked a lot different.

Thanks to some generous donations and a lot of volunteer labor the building got a much needed face lift.

"Just dark and gloomy."

Dane County Boys and Girls Club CEO Michael Johnson says that 'dark and gloomy' gym floor was replaced for free saving the organization some $60,000, the walls got a fresh coat of paint and the floor...new carpets.

Johnson says, " They gave us like 10,000 sheets of it. "

There's one other addition at the Boys and Girls Club and it comes courtesy the Madison Police Department.

Since about the middle of July Officer Jodi Nelson has been working out of an office at the Boys and Girls Club.

Her job still includes serving and protecting, but with a little more cheer leading.

" I'm coming in here just to joke around with them. Just to talk, see how their day's have gone. "

According to Johnson the idea here is if these kids are exposed to police early and often enough they'll learn not to fear the police but to trust and work with them.

Johnson says, " She's not here to arrest kids. She's not here to watch what our kids are doing. But she's here to build a better relationship with the young people that come to our clubs. "

Right now Officer Jodi as the kids call her is at the club just about every day she works, laying the foundation to that better relationship.

All of the materials for the office and the labor was donated by Findorff Construction company.