For more than 100 years, the Naperville YMCA has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of the Naperville community. And today, our community has been going through unprecedented challenges. We have never faced a challenge as complex and threatening as this one. Neither the Y nor our trusted partners have navigated a situation requiring such flexibility, caring, innovation, and commitment. It will take our entire community to come together to recover.
Through good times and tough times, the Y has continued to provide essential services that build the foundation of our community. When young men migrated to urban centers from family farms looking for work they relied on the Y for lodging and healthy activity; when women began entering the workforce they looked to the Y for night school training. When GIs got off their ships after WWII young soldiers stayed at the Y until their trips home were confirmed. With the baby boom, families turned to the YMCA for child care and family programs.
Over the years, the Y has invented summer camp, swim lessons, basketball, Youth and Government and hundreds of other important elements of the American lifestyle – the Y is woven into the fabric of the Naperville community and our nation.
The Y is one of the places in the community where people of all ages, backgrounds and economic levels can come together for a common purpose – to build the foundation of community. You rely on the Y and the Y relies on you. Your Naperville YMCA is providing care for children of healthcare providers, and essential workers through partnership with Edward-Elmhurst Hospital and Naperville School District 203, allowing our local heroes to focus on their responsibilities knowing their children are receiving safe and enriching. With the launch of our new Y on the Go, virtual YMCA, complete with free, virtual group exercise classes, family activities, and other resources, the Y is keeping everyone engaged.
We cannot do it alone; we need to continue to work with our partners and gain support from our community. Play an active role in ensuring the YMCA is prepared to continue to support children, families and the community now and as we recover from the pandemic.
To date, more than 200 members have converted their monthly fee to a donation to help support the efforts of the organization. A donation will help us continue to provide much needed financial assistance for child care programs, and support scholarships for additional Naperville YMCA programs. If you are able to make a donation, please reach out to us at sns@ymcachicago.org.
We look forward to the time when we all can come together as a community, until then please stay well.
