South Sound YMCA – Healthy People and Communities

south sound ymca
Markiesha Lawson (left) and her daughter, Inajah, were able to participate in a South Sound YMCA program, for a nominal $25, because of the funds raised through the Annual Campaign.
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By Lisa Herrick

south sound ymca
Markiesha Lawson (left) and her daughter, Inajah, were able to participate in a South Sound YMCA program, for a nominal $25, because of the funds raised through the Annual Campaign.

The Y is often considered the bedrock of a community. The organization provides programs to help families and neighborhoods in healthy living. At the South Sound YMCA kids can participate in youth sports in a supportive and encouraging setting. Adults can stay fit by joining a variety of exercise classes. And the Y offers educational programs to learn about healthy lifestyle choices for the mind, body and spirit.

Many of us associate the Y with its well-known swim lessons. Countless numbers of kids have learned how to swim in a Y swimming pool. The hope of the Y is to ensure that every child, family and adult has what they need to achieve their best whether it is accomplished through swimming lessons, youth sports teams, adult fitness classes, or healthy lifestyle education. The Y strives to keep their programs and facilities accessible to everyone regardless of the ability to pay.

The reality is that not everyone has the ability to pay for South Sound YMCA programs. Ron White, South Sound YMCA Child Development Director explains that there are many families in our community who simply do not make enough money to adequately pay for quality childcare yet make too much money to qualify for state assistance through the Department of Health and Social Services. The South Sound YMCA fills the gap for families in just that sort of predicament.

“There is a special family that has been with the Y for nearly eight years when their youngest son was probably ten years old,” shares White. “They now have three children ages three, nine and eighteen. The mom works in education during the academic year of September through June. She earns approximately $1,000 per month. The dad works seasonally in construction. They earn just enough money that they do not qualify for any state assistance yet they do not have enough money to pay for quality and consistent childcare, especially considering the seasonality of their jobs. They do not want their children to bounce around in different care facilities. This is the exact type of family the Y tries to serve by providing financial assistance.”

South Sound YMCA offers before and after school childcare in 29 local elementary schools as well as an early learning program at South Puget Sound Community College. Thirty percent of participant families receive some level of financial assistance ranging from a portion of the cost being covered to being fully funded.

The South Sound YMCA is able to help out families in need of financial assistance through the money it raises during its Annual Campaign. The Annual Campaign is the South Sound YMCA’s primary fundraiser and is completely driven by volunteers. There are currently 122 South Sound YMCA campaign volunteers working to meet a goal of raising $384,000. Over the course of five weeks, campaign volunteers conduct community outreach to share the story of the Y.

south sound ymca
Kat Parks (right), Membership Director of the Sound Sound YMCA Olympia downtown branch, passes off a membership gift certificate to a young woman.

Jake Grater, Executive Director of the South Sound YMCA, provides some stories of how the Y has helped local families. “This past summer we had a single mom with two teenage daughters come to the Y. Their father had left the family, which resulted in extreme financial hardship. The family was living in a shelter. Fortunately, the mom was able to secure full-time employment and they moved into permanent housing relatively quickly. And because of generous contributions from the community, the South Sound YMCA was able to offer scholarships for the girls to participate in the Counselor in Training program over the summer. Most importantly, the South Sound YMCA was there when the family needed it the most and the kids were able to get a valuable service-learning opportunity through the Y.”

Donations from the annual campaign truly make a difference in people’s lives. Sometimes the need is immediate and prevents a crisis in a family. Other times, donations fund an ongoing program.

Grater shares, “Every day a group of teens from Touchstone, a group home operated by Community Youth Services for teens who once were housed in a detention facility but have met criteria to be moved to a residential facility, come to the Olympia Downtown branch with their counselors. Each teen has purchased their own individual membership as part of their reintegration process. The Y heavily subsidizes the membership fee. Over time, the teens earn the privilege to visit the Y and use the facilities without their counselors-this is a big honor for them. Basketball is one of the favorite activities for the kids. For the past several seasons, the Touchstone Teens have fielded a team in the South Sound YMCA’s high school basketball program. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, the YMCA is able to cover the fee for their participation.”

Donating to the South Sound YMCA Annual Campaign helps young people achieve their potential, empowers people of all ages to lead healthier lives, and strengthens our community. There are countless stories of South Sound kids and families benefiting from the Y.

Click here to learn more about the South Sound YMCA and its current Annual Campaign.

 

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