First and foremost, know that your entire YMCA community is thinking of you, your families, and our community-at-large. We hope you are all staying safe and healthy, and that you're managing as well as you can under the current circumstances. While we may not be gathering in person for the time being, we are together in spirit and want to help support our community during this strange and difficult time. Based on the feedback from the community, we have begun to implement an action plan that goes beyond our typical YMCA programming and service delivery system. We are honored and excited to serve in the following capacity:

Wallingford Community Library - Folks need to pass the time away and without access to our great public library, staff have found a way to repurpose members' donations as another resident's treasure! Books are located on the front porch of our Rotary Teen Center, 55 S. Main St., Wallingford, right next door to our East Side Branch. Take a book or leave one!

Virtual Y - Without access to our highly used facilities, the need for healthy lifestyle and youth development resources during this difficult time is highlighted more than ever. Y staff have developed online workout routines, educational resources, family and kid activities for all to enjoy.

Story Time & Virtual Classroom - Our littlest ones are especially impacted by the drastic changes in our day to day lifestyles. The daily Early Childcare opportunities they used to know have now been replaced by virtual "Facebook Live" learning activities provided by the friendly faces of our YMCA staff.

Calls to members and Coffee & Conversations - Not only does the community miss being informed, but they miss the social interaction they had when the YMCA facilities were open. YMCA staff have responded by making calls to members, especially those at high at risk, during this public health crisis. We have also launched an "open mic" online conversation with Y leadership and the community.

Action items in the works

Emergency Childcare Services - As we speak, Y staff are working hard with our local hospital partners and the Office of Early Childcare to determine the need of childcare services for our health care providers. These professionals will be needed the most during this epidemic and if there is a need, the YMCA can help by taking care of their children; infants, toddlers, preschool and school age, to allow them the confidence to do their jobs in caring for the COVID-19 patients.

Blood Drives - Another high demand commodity is blood donations. Due to facilities being closed down, blood supplies are at an all-time low. The YMCA has offered both of our locations to help provide a host draw station to address that demand. Stay tuned for blood drive dates.

We look forward to connecting with you virtually, and in-person in the near future. Please reach out at any time if the YMCA can help in any way to make this awful situation just a little bit better.

Be well,

Sean Doherty

Executive Director

Wallingford Family YMCA

sdoherty@wallingfordymca.org

Follow this link:
Community Health is the Top Priority for the Wallingford YMCA - Wallingford, CT Patch