A CASE FOR SUPPORT FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS AT THE YMCA
As always, the YMCA is profoundly invested in the well being of children and youth in our area. To that end, one of the very successful programs the Brockville YMCA had put in place was their Friday Night Youth program. It offered our youth the opportunity to engage in a diversity of activities in a safe environment. The success of this program was evident by the numbers attending – up to 200 each Friday – and some reduction in petty crimes in the city. Keeping our youth engaged in healthy initiatives was the goal and it worked.
Closing our facilities due to the Covid-19, gave staff the opportunity to consider such initiatives again. They knew the need would be there. This is how Teen Drop-In for Teens came to be. This is how our YMCA is addressing the needs of our youth right now. From Monday to Friday, teens ages 13-18, will be welcomed at the YMCA from 4 to 8. A variety of activities will be made available, including healthy snacks. This program starts on September 15, and the staff at the YMCA is eager to work at making this a great experience for our youth.
Approximately 24% of YMCA members and campers receive financial assistance. Locally, 1 in 10 families live in poverty. 1 in 9 kids live in poverty. 1 in 12 report not being able to put food on the table. We know the need is there.
Due to the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus situation, the YMCA is taking advantage of available Covid-19 relief startup funding to purchase furniture, computers, musical instruments and more, in order to create a space for teens to safely reconnect after months of social isolation. In partnership with Connect Youth Inc., the YMCA will ensure these opportunities are also made available to homeless or at risk youth.
The YMCA must now find financial support to fund all the other expenses that come with such initiatives. Please consider voting for your YMCA. This organization will put our contribution to good use, making sure our kids get a most needed break. 100 Women Who Care will be impressed with the results of our donation.