The YMCA of Central Massachusetts is a cause-driven organization that is for youth development, for healthy living and for social responsibility.
As your YMCA continues to provide critical services to the community, we are grateful for those who join us and support our important efforts – like the Worcester Together Fund, a partnership of Greater Worcester Community Foundation and United Way of Central Massachusetts, in cooperation with the City of Worcester. The Y just received a $25,000 grant for our Emergency Child Care Program. We’re all in this together – thankfully. ❤️
Our YMCA President and CEO, David Connell, was a featured guest on a recent “The Working Lunch from Home” special edition hosted by MassHire.
Watch the video below to hear David Connell and our friends at the Worcester Boys & Girls Club talk about the community and our Y’s response to the pandemic including; Emergency Childcare Services, connecting with members, anti-hunger programs, and the overall community impact.
#GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 – in addition to the regularly scheduled Dec 1, 2020 #GivingTuesday – as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. People can show their generosity in a variety of ways during #GivingTuesdayNow–whether it’s helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill, or giving to causes, every act of generosity counts. ❤️
We all know that Y volunteers are invaluable.
They’re strong. They’re resilient. They’ve got your back.
Y volunteers are making well-check calls, donating to the Y’s COVID-19 appeal, surprising our Emergency Child Care staff with lunch, leading small walking groups (socially distant of course) and so much more.
We’re working hard to support our community with free emergency child care, food preparation and distribution, well-check calls to our members and virtual exercise programs.
Together, we’re unstoppable.
Today, on this national day of giving, we invite you to be part of this incredible team and make a gift if you can. Thank you!
Learn more about #GivingTuesdayNow
Where’s the light at the end of the tunnel?
We’re wondering and waiting too.
THANK YOU for supporting your YMCA.
We asked you to #StayWithUs; and you did.
And we appreciate it.
But we’re still hard at work and need your help to offer:
Emergency Childcare, Feeding Programs, Supporting Vulnerable Families.
This work is difficult and we are grateful for your support.
As we approach May 1st, here’s our commitment to you: anyone who stays with us during these unprecedented times will receive 50% off their membership for the first two months when the Y reopens.
We hope you see the value in our important community efforts; please indicate your choice here or email [email protected].
Be well,
David Connell
President and CEO
This year’s Annual Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Event was a little different. The Volunteer Recognition Event Celebrating YMCA Youth Achievers has been postponed to a later date, yet to be determined. The business portion of the Annual Meeting was moved online for a Zoom interactive video experience. YMCA Board of Directors, YMCA Executive Staff and Y Volunteers were able to connect with one another and take care of the official business of the Board of Directors, Advisory Board, Board of Governors, and Corporators.
President & CEO, David Connell’s presentation is below.
Let’s face it, getting four children out of the house – breakfast fed and lunches packed – and off to work each morning is no small feat. And now, imagine a pandemic in which you are an essential employee. You are on the front lines, fighting hard and holding on to the hope that this community health crisis will end soon and you and your family will return to some semblance of life as you knew it.
This Mom of four children, ages 3 to 11, is grateful for many things; and the Central Community Branch is ranked high on her list. During this community health crisis, the branch is offering emergency child care AND serves as a feeding site for the community in partnership with the Worcester Public Schools. Breakfast and lunch are available each day, and new this week, dinner is provided as well.
So let’s do the math: three meals a day – five days a week – for four children. That’s right – 60 meals a week help this one family, whose Mom is out helping many more people in Worcester. There’s even more! Every child in our emergency child care program receives a bag of meals to take home with them on Friday, which contains three meals a day for Saturday AND Sunday.
Since Emergency Child Care began on March 25, through our partnership, we have served 1,287 meals at the Central Branch as of the end of today. For this one family, our services continue to provide great assistance in such a challenging time. And for our community, we’ll continue to work hard and be there for those who need us most.
