Young Mens Christian Association Of Middletown Ny

THE YMCA OF MIDDLETOWN IS A CHARITABLE, COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT INCLUDES MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, INCOMES, RACES AND RELIGIONS. WE ARE DEDICATED TO BUILDING STRONG KIDS, STRONG FAMILIES, AND STRONG COMMUNITIES THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, STRONG VALUES, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY INTERACTION, AND INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING. ALL PERSONS ARE WELCOME AT OUR YMCA, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. OUR YMCA IS FOUNDED AND LED BY VOLUNTEERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY; VOLUNTEERS ALSO SERVE AS MENTORS, COACHES, PROGRAM LEADERS, INSTRUCTORS AND MORE.

THE YMCA OF MIDDLETOWN CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE MID-HUDSON VALLEY. EVERY DAY THROUGH OUR WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMMING, OUR TALENTED YMCA STAFF POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES OF SO MANY CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. AFTER BEING FORCED TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN IN 2020 AND THEN TRANSITIONING TO LIMITED OPERATIONS DUE TO COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS, 2021 WAS A YEAR OF SLOW, BUT STEADY RECOVERY FOR OUR YMCA ORGANIZATION. AS THE YEAR PROGRESSED, OUR NUMBER OF MEMBERS SERVED INCREASED ALONG WITH OUR EXPANDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. ALONG WITH THE INCREASED SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING, WE WERE ABLE TO REBUILD OUR YMCA STAFF TEAM WITHIN EACH OF OUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. BY THE END OF LAST YEAR, THE YMCA STAFF TEAM WAS COMPRISED OF 275 CARING, COMMITTED, AND PASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS WHO PROVIDED A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES TO OVER 12,000 INDIVIDUALS. IN THE CONTEXT OF WORKING WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE NECESSARY SAFETY PROTOCOLS, WE STILL MAINTAINED THE OVERALL EMPHASIS ON OUR ROLE IN COMMUNITY IMPACT, FOCUSING ON OUR THREE PRIMARY AREAS OF FOCUS WHICH ARE; YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. IN LINE WITH OUR MISSION, OUR PROGRAMS FOCUS ON LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, SPORTS INSTRUCTION, FITNESS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY; STRENGTHENING FAMILIES THROUGH ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION IN THIS VARIETY OF SERVICES. ALL YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS ARE VALUES BASED AND ARE IMPLEMENTED IN RESPONSE TO THE PARTICULAR NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, THROUGHOUT ORANGE COUNTY AND IN A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS IN SULLIVAN COUNTY.YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:THE YMCA IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN BY CULTIVATING THE VALUES, SKILLS, AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS, IMPROVING HEALTH AND NUTRITION TO BUILD A BASE FOR LIFE-LONG FITNESS AND ENCOURAGING EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT.CLUB KID: WE HAVE SLOWLY RECOVERED FROM PANDEMIC LOCKDOWNS TO NOW OFFER A TOTAL OF 24 BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, 19 OF WHICH ARE SCHOOL-BASED. WE PROVIDED SAFE, QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE TO AN AVERAGE OF APPROXIMATELY 400 CHILDREN EACH DAY DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 2021, SERVING AGES 5-12 THROUGHOUT ORANGE COUNTY. AS THE YEAR PROGRESSED AND MORE PEOPLE BEGAN TO GO BACK TO WORK, THE NEED FOR OUR CLUB KID PROGRAM CONTINUED TO GROW. IN THE FALL OF 2021, THAT NUMBER OF CHILDREN SERVED INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 800 EACH DAY. THE YMCA SERVES EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ORANGE COUNTY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WARWICK, NEWBURGH AND TUXEDO. ALL OF THE SITES ARE SCHOOL BASED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR MIDDLETOWN PROGRAMS WHICH ARE HELD AT OUR "CENTER FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS" ON LIBERTY STREET IN MIDDLETOWN. ALL SITES MEET HEPA STANDARDS FOR NUTRITIOUS SNACKS AND ARE LICENSED BY THE STATE OF NEW YORK. OUR PROGRAM IN MIDDLETOWN PARTICIPATES IN THE CACFP SNACK REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM AND AS A RESULT, CAN OFFER MORE NUTRITIOUS SNACKS, WHICH INCLUDE FRESH VEGETABLES, FRUIT, ETC. ALL CLUB-KID PROGRAMS ALSO OFFER TUTORIAL ASSISTANCE, HEALTHY SNACKS, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, OUTDOOR PLAY TIME, (SOME EVEN OFFER SWIMMING TRANSPORTATION TO THE Y), ARTS AND SOCIAL COMPETENCY SKILLS, ALL LED BY TRAINED, CARING, POSITIVE ADULT ROLE MODELS. AS SPECIFIC SCHOOLS WERE FORCED TO CLOSE DUE TO PERIODIC COVID-19 QUARANTINES, THE YMCA SERVED THE ROLE OF REMOTE LEARNING THOUGH USE OF OUR NEWLY FORMED "Y LEARNING ACADEMY" HELD AT THE "CENTER FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS". WE HAD THE ABILITY TO SUPPLEMENT THE FULL DAY OF STATIONARY REMOTE LEARNING WITH A MIXTURE OF GAMES, CRAFTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SOCIALIZE PROVIDING A BREAK FROM THE SOCIAL LIMITATIONS OF WORKING WITH A VIDEO SCREEN. THE ROWLEY FOUNDATION MADE A CONTRIBUTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 TO THE YMCA, WHICH WAS EARMARKED TO HELP FAMILIES IN NEED FOR BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CHILDCARE. A PORTION OF THE MONEY WAS USED FOR TUTORING SERVICES TO HELP REINFORCE WHAT THE CHILD HAD LEARNED DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.THE DEMAND FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INCREASED WITH MANY PARENTS BEING OUT OF WORK AND JUST BEGINNING TO RETURN TO THE WORK PLACE AGAIN. WE PROVIDED $72,250 OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP FAMILIES IN NEED, WHICH WERE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH DONATIONS FROM OUR STRONG KIDS CAMPAIGN. YMCA FIRST STEP PRESCHOOL AND UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN:WE PROVIDE (HALF AND FULL-DAY) ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS (MORNING AND AFTERNOON) FOR CHILDREN AGED THREE AND FOUR, AS WELL AS A KINDERGARTEN READINESS PROGRAM.IN THE MIDST OF HEAVY COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, FROM JANUARY THRU JUNE OF 2021 THE YMCA SERVED A TOTAL OF 65 CHILDREN. THE LIBERTY STREET PROGRAM CENTER WHERE OUR PRESCHOOL IS HOUSED, PROVIDED HALF-DAY AND FULL-DAY ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR FIRST STEP PRESCHOOL. 38 OUT OF THE 65 CHILDREN, WERE ENROLLED IN THE UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN READINESS PROGRAM (UPK).IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021 WE SAW ENROLLMENT GROW TO 56 UPK CHILDREN AND 41 PRESCHOOLERS SERVICING A TOTAL OF 97 PRESCHOOLERS. THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR OF 2021 EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT WAS PUT INTO THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS HANDED DOWN BY NY STATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. SAFETY PROTOCOLS INCLUDED CHECK IN PROCEDURES, SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND DISINFECTING PRACTICE. YMCA FIRST STEP PRESCHOOL EVEN TOOK SAFETY MEASURES TO USE TABLES SUBDIVIDED WITH PLEXI-GLASS SHIELDS TO ACT AS A BARRIER TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE. WHILE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, SCHOOL READINESS AND LITERACY ARE A PRIMARY FOCUS OF THESE PROGRAMS, WE ALSO SUPPLEMENT THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM WITH AN INCREDIBLE MUSIC PROGRAM, SOME STEM CURRICULA AND A PE PROGRAM THAT ALSO INCLUDES SWIMMING CLASSES AT OUR HIGHLAND AVENUE FACILITY LOCATED TWO BLOCKS AWAY. WE ALSO HOST A NUMBER OF SPECIAL/OFTEN SEASONAL EVENTS THAT SEEK TO INVOLVE THE FAMILIES. THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVED BY THE CENTER ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF MOST EVERY ETHNIC GROUP AND FAMILY MAKEUP THAT EXISTS WITHIN A FOUR-MILE RADIUS OF THE LIBERTY STREET CENTER. THE Y TAKES GREAT PRIDE ON THIS LEVEL OF DIVERSITY.DAY CAMPS: THE YMCA OF MIDDLETOWN HAS A LONG AND PROUD HISTORY OF PROVIDING A SAFE AND FUN DAY CAMP EXPERIENCE TO THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN THROUGH THE YEARS. LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, COVID-19 NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THIS TRADITION. BUT, THANKFULLY DUE TO A BRIEF SUMMER RESPITE IN THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE CHILDREN AND OFFER ITS TRADITIONAL SUMMER CAMP DURING A TIME CHILDREN NEEDED OUR YMCA THE MOST. WE SUCCESSFULLY AND SAFELY OPERATED 4 CAMPS, SERVING A COMBINED 750 CAMPERS DAILY, WHILE FOLLOWING ALL OF THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS PRESCRIBED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. WE OPERATED AT OUR MIDDLETOWN LOCATION - CAMP FUNSHINE, CAMP ROBBINS IN WALDEN, CAMP DISCOVERY IN HARRIMAN STATE PARK AND OUR WEE-DISCOVER CAMP WHICH OPERATES OUT OF OUR MONROE LOCATION. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO COVID HESITANCY ON THE PART OF THE TOWN OF THOMPSON, OUR SULLIVAN COUNTY CAMP WAS NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN 2021.OUR DAY CAMP CALLED CAMP FUNSHINE, AT OUR CENTER FOR YOUTH (LIBERTY STREET) PROVIDED CAMP TO A DAILY AVERAGE OF 200 CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. OUR PRESCHOOL CAMP (AGES 3-6) KNOWN AS WEE-DISCOVER, WHICH OPERATES OUT OF OUR MONROE BRANCH SERVED 75 CHILDREN EACH DAY. CAMP DISCOVERY SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 250 CHILDREN DAILY EACH WEEK DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND ONCE AGAIN WAS VOTED THE NUMBER ONE DAY CAMP IN THE HUDSON VALLEY. THE CAMP WAS STILL ABLE TO OFFER AN INCREDIBLE ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES FROM CRAFTS, ARCHERY, FISHING TO BOATING AND SPORTS AND IS FAMOUS FOR ITS DAILY MORNING SPIRIT CIRCLE THAT BRINGS EACH OF THE CAMP GROUPS TO THE STAGE TO PERFORM AND PREPARE CAMPERS FOR THE DAY. CAMP ROBBINS SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 225 CAMPERS DAILY, STILL ABLE TO OFFER ITS INCREDIBLE ROPES COURSE ACTIVITIES, FISHING, ACTING PERFORMANCES, AND MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT MAKES THIS CAMP SO SPECIAL. OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER, SWIMMING WAS INCLUDED IN ALL OF OUR CAMPS. EACH CAMP PROGRAM OPERATES IN VERY UNIQUE SETTINGS WITH THE COMMON GOAL OF DEVELOPING SOCIAL COMPETENCY SKILLS WHILE INTRODUCING THE CHILDREN TO A VARIETY OF ACTIVE SPORTS, MUSIC, AND ARTS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS LIMITED MANY OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE TRADITIONALLY AN IMPORTANT PART OF ALL OF OUR CAMPS, SUCH AS OUR 'FAMILY NIGHTS', OVERNIGHTS AND A NUMBER OF OTHER EVENTS THAT THE CHILDREN LOOK FORWARD TO EACH SUMMER.AQUATICS: IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF OPERATION, WE AVERAGED 200 -225 CHILDREN IN SWIM LESSONS AT OUR MIDDLETOWN BRANCH. IN EFFORTS TO KEEP OUR MEMBERS SAFE, WE CONTINUED TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN LAP SWIM, WATER EXERCISE, AS WELL AS IN OUR FAMILY SWIM TIMES. WATER EXERCISE WAS LIMITED TO ABOUT 20 PARTICIPANTS PER CLASS, WHILE LAP SWIMMERS HAD TO REGISTER AHEAD OF TIME PRIOR TO PARTICIPATING IN LAP SWIM. DUE TO THE RESTRICTIONS, WE FELT IT WAS BEST TO LIMIT 1 SWIMMER PER LANE AT THE TIME.

IN MAY OF 2021, THE SOUTH ORANGE FAMILY YMCA DELIVERED ITS PROMISE TO THE COMMUNITY AND OPENED ITS NEW 25 YARD, 4 LANE LAP POOL. A MONTH LATER, ALL COVID RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED WHICH LED TO A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION. WE BEGAN AVERAGING 400-450 CHILDREN IN SWIM LESSONS EACH SESSION. WE ALSO SAW THE DEMAND OF PRIVATE 1 ON 1 LESSONS FOR BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN INCREASE DRAMATICALLY SERVING NEARLY 50 PRIVATES A WEEK. THE DEMAND FOR LAP AND WATER EXERCISE CLASSES NEARLY DOUBLED IN PARTICIPATION. WATER EXERCISE CLASSES AVERAGED 30 PARTICIPANTS IN EACH CLASS AND LAP SWIMMERS BEGAN SHARING LANES AGAIN WITH 2 SWIMMERS PER LANE AND AT BUSY TIMES HAVING TO CIRCLE SWIM AT BOTH MIDDLETOWN AND MONROE BRANCHES. OUR FAMILY SWIM NUMBERS CONTINUED TO INCREASE AS WELL WHICH LED TO INCREASED HOURS ON THE WEEKEND IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH THE NEED TO SERVE ALL OF OUR FAMILIES. TRADITIONALLY, THE YMCA OF MIDDLETOWN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAINING A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE LIFEGUARDS WHO WORK AT LOCAL POOLS, LAKES, AND OTHER PUBLIC SWIMMING AREAS THROUGHOUT ORANGE COUNTY. WITH A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF LIFEGUARDS, OUR AQUATICS TEAM WAS VERY BUSY PROVIDING TRAINING TO MANY TEENS THROUGHOUT ORANGE COUNTY. OUR COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM (THE BARRACUDAS) BEGAN SWIMMING AT MINISINK VALLEY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021, IN ADDITION TO THE Y POOL WHEN THE SCHOOL FACILITY WAS CLOSED OR UNAVAILABLE. IN THE FALL/WINTER OF 2021, THE BARRACUDAS AVERAGED 48 INDIVIDUALS. YOUTH SPORTS: THE LYONS SPORTS AND FITNESS CENTER IS A UNIQUE RECREATION CENTER FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN, SUBDIVIDED BY CURTAINS INTO THREE DISTINCT PLAY AREAS FOR GYMNASTICS, SOCCER (TURF) AND BASKETBALL SO ALL PROGRAMS CAN HAPPEN SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS SPACE CONTINUES TO DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO SCHEDULE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN AGES 3-9. THE NEW GYMNASIUM AND TURF AREA THAT OUR MONROE BRANCH HAS TO OFFER ALSO HAS A CURTAIN ALLOWING FOR MULTIPLE PROGRAMS TO HAPPEN IN ONE SPACE AS WELL.OVERALL, WE PROVIDED A PLETHORA OF SPORTS/RECREATION PROGRAMS FOR AGES 3-12 INCLUDING BASKETBALL, GYMNASTICS, INDOOR ROCK CLIMBING, SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL, T-BALL, AND MORE SERVING 650 CHILDREN EACH WEEK BY THE YEAR'S END. ALL PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON SOCIAL COMPETENCY SKILLS, TEAMWORK AND MUTUAL RESPECT, AND INSTILLED THE FOUR CORE VALUES OF THE YMCA (HONESTY, RESPECT, RESPONSIBLY AND CARING) WHILE HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP A LIFELONG INTEREST IN RECREATIONAL AND FITNESS ACTIVITIES. MUSIC & ARTS PROGRAMS: OUR MUSIC DEPARTMENT OFFERS A VARIETY OF CLASSES AND PROGRAMS, WITH MUCH OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ENERGY COMMITTED TO ADDING A MUSIC COMPONENT TO OUR UPK, PRESCHOOL, CLUB KID AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS. WHETHER CHILDREN PERFORM WITH KAZOOS AND BELLS, OR SIMPLY SING TOGETHER, MUSIC IS A CHERISHED PIECE OF Y'S PROGRAMS. AFTER MOVING OUR MUSIC DEPARTMENT OVER TO OUR HIGHLAND AVENUE FACILITY, THE PROGRAM GREW TO SERVING 75 STUDENTS EACH SESSION, WHILE SERVING ANOTHER 8-20 INDIVIDUALS IN 1 ON 1 PRIVATE LESSONS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. MUSIC WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PRE SCHOOL AND UPK STUDENT'S DAY WELL AS OUR CLUB KID PROGRAM. IN THE FALL WHAT WAS JUST KNOWN AS MUSIC DEPARTMENT, GREW TO AN ARTS DEPARTMENT AS WELL. THE Y OFFERED DRAWING AND POETRY ELEMENTS ALONG WITH DRAMA IN WITHIN ITS EXISTING PROGRAMMING. THE YMCA ALSO INTRODUCED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO SEWING. TEEN PROGRAMS: THE BEAT THE STREETS PROGRAM IS A TEEN INITIATIVE PROGRAM WHICH IS FUNDED THROUGH THE DYSON FOUNDATION AND STRONG KIDS. THIS PROGRAM SERVES AGES 10-15 YEARS OF AGE AND RUNS 2 SATURDAYS EACH MONTH. TEENS PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SPORTS, MUSIC, ART, SWIMMING, AND GROUP GAMES. ULTIMATELY OUR GOALS ARE: COMMUNITY CONNECTEDNESS, EXPOSURE TO POSITIVE ADULT ROLE MODELS, INCREASED SELF-ESTEEM AND INCREASED RESILIENCY, INCREASED SELF-ESTEEM, AND A STRONG CONNECTION TO THE YMCA. UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND BECAUSE OF RESTRICTIONS, WE DID NOT REOPEN THIS PROGRAM UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2021. MANY OF THE TEENS WALK TO THE YMCA OF MIDDLETOWN FOR BTS BECAUSE THEY LIVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE YMCA. WE AVERAGED APPROXIMATELY 75 TEENS AT EACH OF THE BTS OUTINGS.THE LEADERS CLUB PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BUILDING LEADERSHIP SKILLS, ENGAGING THE CHILDREN IN COMMUNITY EVENTS (IN AND OUTSIDE OF THE Y), AND UNDERSTANDING GROUP WORK AND PLANNING SKILLS. THE LEADERS CLUB PROGRAM HAD 15 TEEN LEADERS (HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS) AND 13 JUNIOR LEADERS (MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN 7TH AND 8TH GRADE). BOTH OF THESE CLUBS CONTINUED TO MEET REMOTELY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND LATER BEGAN MEETING FACE TO FACE AS COVID RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED. THE LEADERS CLUB PROGRAM STILL MANAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN A NUMBER OF EVENTS, BOTH IN THE COMMUNITY, AND AS VOLUNTEERS AT YMCA COMMUNITY EVENTS INCLUDING; MULTIPLE FOOD DRIVES, COAT DRIVES, ASSISTED AT THE SOUP KITCHEN, HELPED FAMILIES AROUND THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY BY PROVIDING FOOD TO FAMILIES, CONTINUED THEIR ANGEL GIVING TREE FOR FAMILIES WHO COULD NOT AFFORD GIFTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AND HELPED CREATE A HAUNTED HOUSE FOR OTHER TEENS AND ADULTS AROUND HALLOWEEN WHICH WAS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY. KIDS NIGHT OUT: THIS IS A UNIQUE PROGRAM FOR AGES 3 TO 9 OFFERED ON FRIDAY EVENINGS FROM 6:30PM TO 9:00PM. THE EVENING OFFERED A WIDE RANGE OF RECREATION, ART, MUSIC, AND TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES. IN MIDDLETOWN, THE PROGRAM IS OFFERED 2X A MONTH AND SERVES 60 CHILDREN EACH EVENING. THE MIDDLETOWN PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY THE DYSON FOUNDATION MAKING THE PROGRAM AFFORDABLE FOR A NUMBER OF THE PARTICIPANTS WHO ATTEND FOR ONLY $3. IT IS OUR GOAL FOR THE KIDS NIGHT OUT PROGRAM TO BE A FEEDER TO THE BEAT THE STREETS PROGRAM SO OUR YOUTH CAN DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH POSITIVE ROLE MODELS THAT WORK THE PROGRAM OR VOLUNTEER SUCH AS TEENS WHO ARE A PART OF OUR TEEN LEADERS PROGRAM. THE MONROE BRANCH ALSO OFFERS KIDS NIGHT OUT 1 FRIDAY A MONTH AND AVERAGED 85 CHILDREN PER EVENING, WITH AN INCREDIBLE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AND CONTINUES TO BE THE 'TALK OF THE TOWN' IN MONROE. HEALTHY LIVING:THIS YMCA IS THE PREMIER PROVIDER OF FITNESS/LIFESTYLE CHANGE FOR FAMILIES IN ORANGE COUNTY. WE ARE ACTIVELY SOUGHT OUT BY KEY COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE BATTLE AGAINST YOUTH OBESITY, FAMILY INACTIVITY AND POOR NUTRITION. OUR ABILITY TO REACH DIVERSE POPULATIONS REGARDLESS OF FAITHS, BACKGROUNDS, ABILITIES AND INCOMES PUTS US IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR A BROAD SPECTRUM OF FAMILIES IN ORANGE COUNTY. BOTH OF OUR MEMBERSHIP OPERATING BRANCHES WERE FORCED TO REBUILD AFTER BEING FORCED TO CLOSE DOWN ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANDATE IN MARCH OF 2020 AND WE REOPENED IN THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER 2020. MUCH OF 2021 HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON REBUILDING THE MEMBERSHIP AND PROGRAMS TO WHAT IT WAS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. IN 2021, THE YMCA PROVIDED OVER 40 EXERCISE PROGRAMS WHICH AVERAGED 10-15 INDIVIDUALS PER CLASS BETWEEN TWO BRANCHES. IN JUNE AFTER RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED THE NUMBER OF CLASSES GREW TO OVER 60 CLASSES AND BEGAN TO AVERAGE 15-25 INDIVIDUALS PER CLASS PENDING ON THE CLASS'S POPULARITY. EVEN AFTER RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED, WE DID OUR BEST TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPOTENCE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING, MASK WEARING, AND CONTINUED OUR STEPPED UP EFFORTS OF THE CLEANING OF EQUIPMENT TO ASSURE OUR MEMBERS AS WELL AS OUR YMCA STAFF'S SAFETY. SOUTH ORANGE FAMILY BRANCH: THIS BRANCH BEGAN THE 2021 YEAR WITH 755 MEMBERSHIPS SERVING ALMOST 2,372 YOUTH, ADULTS AND SENIORS, AND BY THE END OF THE 2021 CALENDAR YEAR, HAD 1741 MEMBERSHIPS SERVING 5,275 PEOPLE. THE SOFY BRANCH IS A TWO-STORY; 42,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY DESIGNED TO BE A COMMUNITY CENTER WITH A SPHERE OF INFLUENCE SERVING A SIX-TOWN RADIUS. DESPITE THE OPERATIONAL LIMITATIONS OF THE PANDEMIC THE 1ST HALF OF THE YEAR, THE BRANCH CONTINUED ITS COMMUNITY ROLE INCLUDING; A COAT DRIVE, 3 BLOOD DRIVES, OUR ANGEL GIVING TREE PROGRAM, 2 FOOD DRIVES, A HALLOWEEN GOODIE BAG DRIVE THRU, A PICTURE WITH SANTA WALK-THRU AND GOODIE BAG. THIS YMCA BRANCH CONTINUES TO BE CLEARLY PERCEIVED AS THE FAMILY 'COMMUNITY/RECREATION CENTER' FOR THE REGION. DESPITE THE LIMITATIONS OF THE PANDEMIC IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN OUR NEW ADDITION WHICH INCLUDED A NEW POOL, A LARGER GYMNASIUM, A TURF AREA, A MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM, AND NEW LOCKER ROOMS.

THE MIDDLETOWN BRANCH:THIS 57,000 SQUARE FOOT BRANCH, LOCATED JUST BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE CENTER OF THE CITY OF MIDDLETOWN, STARTED THE YEAR WITH 1470 MEMBERSHIPS SERVING 3811 INDIVIDUALS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2020. AS 2021 CALENDAR YEAR CAME TO AN END, WE HAD GROWN TO 2,925 MEMBERSHIPS AND WERE SERVING 7350 MEMBERS. THE MIDDLETOWN YMCA HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. DESPITE THE PANDEMIC WE WERE STILL ABLE TO DO SEVERAL COAT DRIVES, HOST FOOD DRIVES, PARTICIPATE IN OUR ANGEL GIVING TREE PROGRAM. THE MIDDLETOWN YMCA ALSO PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION BACKPACK WHICH PROVIDES BOOK BAGS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO YOUTH & TEENS WHO ARE IN NEED. THE YMCA OF MIDDLETOWN ALSO SENT ITS JUNIOR AND TEEN LEADERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE KETTLE BELL RINGING TO ASSIST THE SALVATION.SULLIVAN COUNTY BRANCH:IN THE FALL, WE ATTEMPTED TO CREATE AN INCREDIBLE 'HAUNTED TRAIL' EVENT THAT WOULD HAVE ENTERTAINED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN AN EVENTFUL WALK THROUGH THE WOODS AT OUR ROCK HILL PROPERTY. HOWEVER, DUE TO BAD WEATHER ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BOTH EVENTS WERE EVENTUALLY CANCELED SINCE THEY WERE TO BE HELD OUTDOORS. IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, WE HOSTED A CHRISTMAS EVENT WHERE FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN HOLIDAY PROJECTS/CRAFTS AND GOT TO SEE SANTA. EACH FAMILY RECEIVED A PICTURE WITH SANTA. PERIODICALLY, WE ALLOW THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RENT THIS PROPERTY TO HOST THEIR CLUB MEETINGS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND OTHER EVENTS. THIS PROPERTY IS ALSO USED FOR STAFF AND BOARD MEETING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. TRAINING:FIRST AID, CPR AND LIFEGUARD TRAINING: THE YMCA CONDUCTS NUMEROUS CERTIFICATION/TRAINING PROGRAMS, CONTINUING ITS LONG HISTORY OF TRAINING PEOPLE IN THIS VITAL SERVICE FOR THE REGION. WE ARE THE PREMIER PROVIDER OF LIFEGUARD TRAINING IN THE REGION. IN 2021 THE YMCA WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE HOSTED SEVERAL OF THESE TRAINING IN EFFORTS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. BEING THERE WAS A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF LIFEGUARDS, LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATIONS WERE A VERY IMPORTANT NEED IN 2021, ESPECIALLY FOR THE ENTITIES THAT HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO OPEN THEIR COMMUNITY POOLS AND PRIVATE POOLS DURING THE SUMMER.SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:THIS YMCA HAS A LONG-STANDING TRADITION OF SUPPORTING OTHER COMMUNITY INITIATIVES AND NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION. WE ACTIVELY SEEK PARTNERSHIPS TO WORK WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDING THE SPACE AND TRAINING AS WELL AS THE TECHNICAL AND MARKETING SUPPORT THAT EMPOWERS ALL OF US TO EFFECT CHANGE. WE ALSO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN DEVELOPING FUTURE COMMUNITY LEADERS THROUGH A VARIETY OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.PARTNERSHIPS WITH AREA NOT FOR PROFITS: WE TRADITIONALLY PARTNER WITH NUMEROUS NOT FOR PROFIT AGENCIES, BOCES (ESL PROGRAM), A NUMBER OF GROUP HOMES, TWENTY-FOUR SCHOOLS, THE RED CROSS, GIRL SCOUTS, BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS, HOSPICE OF ORANGE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES, INSPIRE, AND A NUMBER OF AREA FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. THE LIMITATIONS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC REDUCED OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE ALL OF THESE INITIATIVES IN EARLY 2021 BUT PARTNERSHIPS CONTINUED IN THE FALL ONCE ALL RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED.GREATER MIDDLETOWN INTERFAITH COUNCIL: THE YMCA IS A MEMBER OF THIS GROUP AND SUPPORTS EFFORTS IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. THE YMCA WAS THE VIRTUAL HOST TO ANOTHER INCREDIBLY INSPIRING COMMUNITY EVENT CELEBRATING "GIVING THANKS" CATERED AROUND THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, WITH BEAUTIFUL HEARTFELT PERFORMANCES AND SPEECHES BY MEMBERS OF A DIVERSE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY. A SIMILAR SUCCESSFUL "VIRTUAL MLK EVENT" WAS HELD IN JANUARY THROUGH THE STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE Y AND THE GREATER MIDDLETOWN INTERFAITH COUNCIL.ANNUAL SUPPORT CAMPAIGNS: WE CONDUCTED OUR ANNUAL SUPPORT CAMPAIGN (STRONG KIDS CAMPAIGN) WHICH GENERATED $172,755.74 IN DONATIONS DURING 2021 WITH THE BULK OF THAT AMOUNT COMING FROM FOUNDATIONS, PRIVATE DONATIONS FROM YMCA & COMMUNITY MEMBER'S FUNDRAISERS AND GRANTS. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, WE PROVIDED A TOTAL OF $178,104 OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. OUR MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MAP) PROVIDED $16,150 FOR MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANCE TO MANY FAMILIES WHO HAVE LIMITED ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE COST OF SERVICES. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE DEMAND FOR ASSISTANCE WITH MEMBERSHIP IN ADDITION TO OUR CLUB KID AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS ALL CONTINUED TO GROW. THE YMCA AWARDED THE FOLLOWING IN ACCESS WHICH DIRECTLY HELPS SUBSIDIZE THE COST FOR FAMILIES FACING HARDSHIPS IN PRESCHOOL, CLUB KID AND CAMP. WE AWARDED $72,250 IN CLUB KID AND AWARDED $59,486 IN CAMP SERVICES. BELOW IS A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF THE TOTALS AWARDED:PRESCHOOL: $30,218CLUB KID: $72,250CAMP: $59,486MAP: $16,150TOTAL $178,104BOARD OF DIRECTORS: A WELL RUN AND EFFECTIVE NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION CANNOT BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT THE COMMITMENT, TALENTS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF A COMMITTED BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IN 2021, MANY OF THE DIRECTORS STEPPED UP THEIR EFFORTS AND PUT IN COUNTLESS HOURS TRULY SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE YMCA THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS OUR MONROE EXPANSION WHICH WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR YMCA BOARD.