“Being able to get my child in YMCA day care allowed me to keep coming into work and keep our patients and staff safe,” says Kelly Grady, RN, UC Davis Health.
When COVID-19 shuttered fitness centers, the YMCA’s work didn’t stop. It was just getting started. More than a gym, the Y is a cause dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility in addressing critical community needs. During the pandemic, the Y was uniquely positioned to pivot services to meet the moment:
- Caring for 3,000 children of essential workers, first responders, and medical professionals so no one had to choose between saving a life and the safety of their family
- Serving more than 100,000 meals to children who would have gone hungry during school closures
- Conducting more than 3,000 calls to isolated seniors during the shelter-in-place orders
- Hosting blood drives that collected more than 400 lifesaving pints and tested for COVID-19 antibodies
- Delivering 35,000 meals to the homeless, ensuring no one was forgotten during the pandemic
- Offering 750 free virtual fitness classes to keep people active and foster community
“The YMCA is the leading nonprofit providing child care to our community, so it was an easy decision to immediately care for essential workers’ children,” says Sharna Braucks, president and CEO of YMCA of Superior California. With programs like sports, camps, and child care for kids, Youth & Government for teens, and fitness for all ages, the Y strengthens communities in Butte, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba Counties since its founding in Old Sacramento in 1866.
“When this crisis is over, there is still work to be done, like saving the lives of children in the River City through swim lessons,” says Braucks. “Your support of the Y’s mission helps someone live a longer, healthier life, not just for today but for generations to come.”
