YMCA of Central Massachusetts is stepping up to be part of the solution
By David Connell
President and CEO
YMCA OF CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS
David Connell
YMCAs have played an integral part in assisting their communities throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. The YMCAs in Massachusetts have fed their neighbors, taken care of the children of essential workers, provided a safe and healthy outdoor space for youth to be this summer, and have opened community learning centers throughout the state. Our YMCA of Central Massachusetts, needs assistance from the state and federal government to help us continue providing support to our communities.
When the Coronavirus pandemic began, the YMCA of Central Massachusetts saw a rapid increase in need from our communities, specifically around food. Our YMCA responded to this need by delivering and handing out 67,000 meals to the families and children.
We also responded by opening up four emergency childcare sites for the children of essential workers. We partnered with the state so that parents did not have to pay or worry about who was watching their children while they were on the front lines protecting our state.
This summer our YMCA was able to serve over 900 youth in our programs and summer camps. This was by far the toughest summer we have ever had. But we were able to provide a safe and healthy place for children to be outside, make friends, and in some cases have the best summer ever.
As schools have reopened in our service area, we are providing six spaces through our Worcester, Fitchburg, Southbridge and Westboro remote learning centers for children to be during the day while parents need to be at work. By providing these spaces for our families, we are meeting a community need that had never been there before.
All of these services take more funding than they have in the past. We have had a reduction in staff and a decline in programmatic revenue that we normally depend on to continue our community-based services. While we are trying to provide as much assistance as possible for our onsite remote learning centers, we know that parents were not prepared to pay for care during the day.
The increase in cost for PPE, cleaning supplies, new space, and retaining staff is challenging. The YMCA of Central Massachusetts calls on the state government to support the YMCAs $1.8 Million Youth-At-Risk line item. A sum that we typically match 12:1. This funding goes directly back into the community through our six branches, youth employment, and our childcare assistance.
We also call on the state government and federal government to find more funds to support the remote learning centers of Massachusetts. Parents did not budget for the costs of these centers and centers cannot reduce their costs because of staffing, space, and PPE. We need a pot of funding to be able to reduce this cost for parents and to help us find staff for these essential jobs.
The YMCA is a community anchor that is here for good. We are proud to have stepped forward to serve our neighbors during this time of need and will continue to do so as long as that need remains.
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (:37). High of 64 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+Noon: Worcester Art Museum discrimination lawsuit has been dismissed
+Noon: Singer Cara Brindisi wants to talk
+Noon: Screen Time: Remembering Clinton's Bewitching star, Agnes Moorehead
+Noon: Sarah Connell Sanders: A few spring things to fling yourself into family fun
+Noon: Jazzed Up Wednesdays at 961 (Union Station)
+Noon: Last Call: Fred Gerhard, poet
-Constant disturbances at house full of squatters has Worcester neighbors on edge (1:20)
-Planned Downtown Worcester restaurant may lose licenses
-See Worcester job, income, population changes over 30 years
-Judge orders prosecutor to turn over documents in Turtleboy case
-Ride-share drivers rally in Worcester to support contractor work, benefits
-Rep. Mary Keefe on revising policies to upgrade Worcester schools
-Sean Rose on getting Mass. migrants into workforce
-Worcester Housing Authority working with Lakeside Apartments residents on relocation to ready for major overhaul
-Here’s why Worcester wants to plant 2 new forests. And it wants your help
-Channel 5 Wake Up Call from Eisenberg Assisted Living in Worcester (:52)
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (45:58): City violence and upcoming State of the City address
-Unsolved: Worcester — The Gardner Fugitive and the Murder of Breanne Pennington. Video (13:59). Audio (13:58)
>SHOPPING: Birch Alley leaves Canal District, moves to Manchaug
-ICYMI: Piccadilly Plaza in Worcester saved from wrecking ball as developer bring in new tenants
-In Worcester, barber offers free haircuts to help boost confidence ahead of M.C.A.S. tests (1:55). Article
-3 in custody after chase on I-290 ends in crash in Northborough (2:17)
-Related: Aerial footage of crash (:50)
-Judge upholds prison sentence of Kevin Perry, former Worcester restaurant owner
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Wachusett names new principal
-Lamoureux Ford salutes the UConn Huskies (:54)
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Applications open for Shrewsbury Youth Police Academy
-Paxton getting override info to voters
-Longtime Sterling volunteer honored
-Grafton candidates night April 28th
-Lancaster's Simon receives Pillar Award
-Tahanto coach announces retirement
-Nashoba Music Department earns national recognition
-Field of 4 vie to fill Bolton post
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Wednesday
-100FM The Pike Adventures with Mike Hsu (5:35): Line dancing at Off the Rails
>SHOWTIME: Richard Thomas in "To Kill a Mockingbird" at The Hanover
-Radio Worcester (15:44): Korey’s Courage — Inspiring stories at Mass. Film Fest
-Worcester Art Museum updates plans for showcasing Higgins Armory Collection
-Daikaiju Pro to mix wrestling, martial arts, theater at White Eagle
-Listen Up: Ghost of the Machine, Weapon E.S.P. get "Savage" again
-Unity Radio (55:12): Standups and Standouts
-Unity Radio (1:00:35): Unity In The Community
-WCCA-TV's This Is Worcester No. 200 (27:20): Peter Panagiotou, Pay It Forward Card Shows
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to man who dedicated 60 years of his life to Notre Dame Cemetery and Mausoleum
>SPORTS: Red Sox lose to Cleveland, 4-1
-8 athletes, 2 teams to be inducted into Worcester Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame
-This week in Holy Cross Athletics
-Worcester Railers 2023-24 season recap
-WooSox Rewind: WooSox take 4 of 6 against Durham
>CARS: Bertera has the all-star team to help you find your next Nissan car or truck (:39)
-U.S. News & World Report lists its best electric and hybrid vehicles for 2024
-Tragic: Woman at risk of losing her arm after being attacked by dog her son rescued
>NEW ENGLAND: Mass. sees drastic increase in gas prices (1:29)
-34 Mass. high schools among nation's best, U.S. News says
>COLLEGES: 2 WPI student teams develop apps for the visually impaired (3:27)
-Anna Maria AMCAST (28:35): Revive, a recovery community outreach program
-Holy Cross Brooks Scholars showcase musical talent at concert
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 7 historic U.S. restaurants worth the reservation
>BUSINESS: Hospital for Behavioral Medicine brings on third C.E.O. since 202
-LPL Research: The ever-changing market narrative
-Proposed changes in Massachusetts would bar use of credit reports by employers
>HOMES: Condominium sells in Boston for $5.3 million
>HEALTH: Preventing and educating kids about cyberbullying
-Exercise could help reduce aging by lowering fat buildup (:52)
>FOOD: The Goods Bakery & Café is thriving in Spencer
>TV/STREAMING: Netflix is the dominant streaming service. So why is it changing its model?
>MOVIES: All "The Omen" movies in order to watch
>CELEBRITY: Grammy-winning gospel singer, former "American Idol" contestant Mandisa, dies at 47
>ANIMALS: Dog found tied to bench with note asking someone to adopt him (3:39)
>HISTORY: Franklin Building, Downtown Worcester, 1898
>GOOD NEWS (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Mystery good Samaritan pulls woman from morning house fire (1:39)
-Meanwhile, in Tewksbury, cake goes viral for mistake (:37)
Latest obituaries | | Tuesday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
+Kitchen help at deadhorse hill
+Food runner at White Eagle
+Bussers, Food Runners & Hostesses at Holden diner
See all Help Wanteds | | Job opening? Post it here for FREE today
Quick Links: Personalize your news | | Browse members | | Advertise | | Blogs | | Invite friends | | Videos
Animals | | Boston Sports | | Business | | Cars | | Celebrity | | Colleges | | Commute & Travel | | Crime | | Faith | | Food | | Good News | | Health | | History | | Homes | | Local Sports | | Lottery | | Movies | | National | | New England | | Politics | | Shopping & Deals | | SHOWTIME! | | TV & Streaming | | Weather