More than a year after seeking crowdfunding for repairs, the Buffalo Irish Center is welcoming folks old and new to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in a building that is slowly, but surely, getting the facelift it needs. Time Warner Cable News reporter Rebecca Vogt stopped by and has more.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- They gather with friends, laughing, singing, and honoring St. Patrick in a place that celebrates the Buffalo area's rich Irish history.  What many may not realize is their annual meeting place has gone through some changes.

"The building's had a facelift," said Ellen Kuehlewind. "It's wonderful to see. People are impressed."

Last year, the Buffalo Irish Center reached out to the community through the crowdfunding website GoFundMe, asking for $25,000 to fix the building. The center surpassed that, raising more than $38,000 to spruce up floors and a concrete patio, and improve heating.

"If you were to look at pictures of last year's Mass the difference in that room this year is striking. The library we're sitting in now had no heat last year. That's a huge difference," said Center Chairman Mary Heneghan.

As one thing got repaired, another fell to the wayside. The center has kept the GoFundMe active as part of a new campaign for 2016.

"Asking for some help to replace the parking lot on the north side of the building. Lot caved in and we've done a 1/3 of the repair to it... That's a $17,000 cost factor," said Heneghan.

Future plans include expanding the kitchen and renewing the heating system in the large Emerald room. Board members say keeping the building up-to-date is crucial for the general well-being of the center.

"The more we continue to improve it, the better it is, the more people want to come down. We want to make it a good, safe, fun environment for everybody," Kuehlewind said.

"We offer what you don't get elsewhere. The ability and mission to hand down our respect for our Irish culture for the next generation," said Heneghan said.

While center leaders can't wait for the day the building doesn't need more work, they say making the Irish Center feel new again is a labor of love and something they're happy to do to keep the center alive.