How the YMCA Helps Families Shine

Mariah* is the mother of two young children, one with special needs. Because of her son’s exceptionalities, she says finding reliable and affordable after school programs has been difficult and has impacted her ability to work.

But she says discovering YMCA Beyond the Bell™, an after-school academic achievement program that uses recreation, academic assistance, nutritional snacks, and socialization to help children in low-income areas build confidence and reach their full potential, has been life-changing.

“Beyond the Bell™ was different. My kids are taken care of and supported, I feel like the staff really care for them and my family. The kids love going and are always doing interesting activities,” she said.

Having a safe space with trained and caring staff was not only great for her children, but it also meant that she was able to go back to school to become a paralegal. However, with Christmas around the corner and finances still tight, she was feeling uneasy about balancing the usual expenses and giving her kids a magical Christmas.

For Giving Tuesday, the YMCA raised $30,000 to give 300 families a $100 grocery gift card so they could share in a warm meal together during the holidays. Mariah’s family received one of those gift cards. 

“I didn’t mean to get so overwhelmed, but I immediately burst into tears and said out loud, ‘We can get a turkey!’ Something I was sure was out of the question,” she said.

Whether it’s our incredibly dedicated and caring staff—being the spark that helps our families shine—or our donors who make these experiences possible, the YMCA is enabling opportunities that allow everybody in our community to thrive.  

“Beyond the Bell has already been a gift to my family…and then things like this gift card happen and it’s just hard to explain how lucky we feel.”

#ShineOn

*Names have been changed to protect the family’s privacy.