For the Present
For the Present
So far in 2020, George Williams Society donors have committed over $3 million to programs that ensure children have safe spaces to learn and thrive, individuals have access to healthy living resources to become their healthiest selves, older adults stay engaged and moving, and financial burdens are eased through scholarship assistance. And all of this was done under extreme circumstances—through closures, social distancing, virtual platforms, and altered approaches.
In all, the Y's physical doors were closed for more than 90 days, with North Carolina locations closed for six months. But the Y's mission never stopped working. Through these challenges, YOU remained steadfast in support of keeping kids safe, people healthy and families cared for—and your donation went to work helping those who needed it the most.
Safe. Reliable. Essential.
Providing a safe, affordable and reliable childcare option for families, no matter what faces our communities, is always a top priority for the Y, especially throughout 2020. Since March, nearly 4,000 kids have been supported through emergency pandemic childcare, summer camp and E-learning virtual support programs at the Y. Your gift means that children who would otherwise go without have access to these affordable and critical program options.
Virtual Connection
When being physically present is at the core of what connects us all to the Y, social distancing can leave a deep void. With the Virtual Y, a resource launched just days into quarantine, members of all ages and stages of life were given a surrogate Y experience that, to date, has been utilized nearly 50,000 times for on-demand fitness classes, cooking demos, virtual coffee hours, art projects and more.
Partnering to feed community
Your donation allowed the Y, though the doors were closed to the public, to partner with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore to help address food insecurity during the darkest days of quarantine. With schools out, and job loss increasing, families and individuals in need had access to nine YMCA locations across Hampton Roads that served as food collection, packing and/or distribution sites. In all, nearly 57,000 individuals received over 281,000 pounds of food from this partnership.
A Safe Return to the Y
After months of quarantine, the Y returned to outdoor fitness and lap swimming as soon as state mandates allowed, then saw a return to facility operations and programming as restrictions were further lifted. With a commitment to safety, increased health measures welcomed members back through the doors of the Y. Throughout the closure, over 1,000 members generously decided to convert their drafts to a donation. It is in part because of this generosity that the Y was able resume operations as soon as it was safe to do so.
#GivingTuesdayNow
On May 5, 2020, in response to the global pandemic and in support of organizations serving the needs of neighbors throughout many challenges, you helped raise over $30,000 in just a single day for the YMCA of South Hampton Roads. You honored the past, supported the present and helped ensure the future of our Y. Thank you.