Ymca Of Memphis & The Mid-South

TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY FOR ALL

HEALTHY LIVING: THE YMCA OF MEMPHIS & THE MID-SOUTH ENGAGED IN OUR CAUSE OF STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY THROUGH HEALTHY LIVING THIS YEAR BY ASSISTING OVER 39,000 MEMBERS IN THEIR HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNEY WITHIN OUR YMCA FACILITIES. WE PROVIDED INSTRUCTION IN THE LIFE-SAVING SKILL OF SWIM LESSONS TO OVER 7,500 KIDS AND FAMILIES PEOPLE. PLANS ARE BEING MADE TO OFFER SWIM LESSONS MORE WIDELY IN 2022 AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE PAST THE RESTRICTIONS OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: WE BELIEVE THAT ALL CHILDREN DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHO THEY REALLY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. OUR ASSOCIATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE BEFORE AND AFTER CARE AT THE MAJORITY OF SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOLS. DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC, WE PARTNERED WITH TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND USDA TO PROVIDE OVER 1,427,420 MEALS AND 135,605 SNACKS TO COMMUNITY CHILDREN THROUGH OUR FOOD PROGRAM. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, OUR YMCA ADMINISTERED A $53 MILLION EMERGENCY CHILD CARE PROGRAM GRANT FOR 14 INDIVIDUAL YMCAS ACROSS THE STATE. THE GRANT PROVIDES DAYCARE SERVICES TO ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES WITH ENROLLMENT OF OVER 19,000 CHILDREN BEGINNING IN APRIL 2020 AND CONTINUES INTO 2021. OUR Y-CAP PROGRAM ENGAGED 176 HOUSEHOLDS WITH AT-RISK STUDENTS IN ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE POSITIVE SELF-WORTH, GOAL-SETTING, IMPROVED BEHAVIORS, SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND SUMMER READING.

YOUTH SPORTS & SUMMER DAY CAMP: YOUTH INVOLVED WITH THESE YMCA PROGRAMS ARE CULTIVATING THE VALUES, SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS AND BETTER HEALTH. OUR YOUTH SPORTS AND SPECIALTY CAMP PROGRAMS LED 2,000 YOUTH TO EXPLORE AND IMPROVE SPORTS SKILLS, PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITIES, AND INCREASE CREATIVITY. SUMMER CAMP IN 2020 WAS NOT HELD BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: WE LAUNCHED A NEW FOOD PROGRAM TO SERVE MEALS TO HUNGRY CHILDREN WHEN THE PANDEMIC BEGAN. WHEN SCHOOLS CLOSED, THESE STUDENTS NO LONGER HAD ACCESS TO THEIR SCHOOL'S NUTRITION PROGRAM. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE CREATED A LOGISTICAL FRAMEWORK TO DELIVER MEALS TO COMMUNITY CENTERS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO ALLOW EASE OF ACCESS FOR CHILDREN ACROSS OUR SERVICE AREA. AT OUR PEAK OPERATION, WE SERVICED OVER 50 LOCATIONS FOR MEAL PICK UP. AS THE OPERATIONAL LEADER FOR THE PROGRAM, WE ALSO ESTABLISHED OUR OWN KITCHEN FACILITY TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AND DISTRIBUTE MEALS TO CHILDREN. IN TOTAL WE PROVIDED OVER 3 MILLION MEALS TO CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY IN 2020.OUR Y ON THE FLY PROGRAM ALSO CONTINUED IN 2020, THOUGH WE WERE FORCED TO PLACE EVENTS ON HOLD IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER DUE TO RESTRICTIONS WITH COVID-19 AND OUR SHIFT IN FOCUS TO PROVIDE MEALS TO CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY STOPS BY THE Y ON THE FLY VANS RESUMED IN THE FALL OF 2020. THESE "Y WITHOUT WALLS" EVENTS PROVIDED PROGRAM EXPERIENCES DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THE Y'S CURRENT SERVICE AREAS. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS OUR ORGANIZATION TO SERVE MORE NEIGHBORHOODS AND MORE CHILDREN THAN POSSIBLE IN PREVIOUS YEARS. THE Y ON THE FLY PROGRAM EXPERIENCE DELIVERS FOOD, EDUCATION, BOOKS, GAMES, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SWIM SAFETY LESSONS, AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE LEARNING AND INSPIRE IMAGINATION. IN ADDITION TO Y PROGRAMMING, OTHER NONPROFITS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS CAN COME ALONGSIDE THE Y ON THE FLY UNITS AND DELIVER ADDITIONAL FAMILY AND YOUTH SERVICES SUCH AS VISION CARE, DENTAL, IMMUNIZATIONS, AND MORE. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, 200 VOLUNTEERS ENGAGED IN THE YMCA MISSION, 4100 BOOKS, 3000 TOOTHBRUSHES, 1000 LUNCH BOXES, 500 COLORING BOOKS AND 150 BOOK BAGS WERE DISTRIBUTED AND 32 COMMUNITIES WERE IMPACTED.