Dear YMCA Community,
These last few weeks have been extraordinary as our community, state, country and world navigate the rapidly changing challenges related to COVID-19. Given all the uncertainty and the stress that come with these challenges, it has never been more critical to stay together, even as we follow the guidelines from officials to keep each other and our community healthy.
At the Goldsboro Family YMCA, everything we do is guided by our commitment to nurture the potential of children, support your health and well-being, and provide support for our neighbors and the community. We’re so much more than a gym, we are a community. At the Y, you’re much more than just a facility member, you’re a part of our purpose and you’re a partner in strengthening the foundations of our community.
Since our inception in 1980 and in difficult times, our Y has always boldly marched toward challenges and we pivot in response to community needs. Today is no different. You can help, and we’re counting on you.
Stay with Us – Your YMCA Membership Choice
As one YMCA Community, we ask that you stay with us. Your membership helps support our efforts and ensures our Y remains strong and poised to meet the critical needs in our community during this unprecedented time. In the past week, we’ve partnered with the United Way and the Wayne County Public Schools to deliver meals to families who are unable to access the current school pick-up sites. By the end of this week, we will have delivered almost 1000 meals and the need is growing. We hope to expand those deliveries to include critical school lessons and supplies. We are in ongoing communication with other non-profit organizations to explore the expansion of food deliveries to preschool children and seniors. Throughout the week, we have been calling our over 1000 senior members just to check in and let them know that we are thinking about them. Social distancing also means social isolation for many of our most vulnerable senior members. As other community needs are identified, we will do our best to mobilize our staff and volunteers to assist in any way that we can.
At this time, we want to offer you options regarding your membership.
1. Keep your membership active. Keeping your membership active will help ensure we remain fully focused on our efforts to support our community and adjust quickly when called upon. If you choose to keep your membership active, please know how grateful we are for your willingness and partnership. You don’t need to take any action to retain this status.
2. Convert your membership to a donation. If you wish to have your membership dues converted to an ongoing, tax-deductible donation during our temporary suspension of facility access and programs, please fill out this online form. You’ll continue to be drafted monthly and when we resume normal operations, your donation will end. At that time, we’ll convert you back to regular membership. Again, we are deeply grateful for your willingness and partnership.
3. If you wish to place your membership on hold at no cost during our temporary suspension of services, we understand. Please contact our Member Services team and they will be more than happy to help you. We realize you have to make the best decision for you and your family. On behalf of everyone in the community counting on our Y in the weeks ahead, thank you for your strong consideration to stay with us. Our community needs you.
Mobilizing for Good
The coronavirus outbreak has created enormous uncertainty for us all, but how we respond is within our control. As soon as it became apparent that our Y needed to change course to support our community, we did. Our teams immediately mobilized to explore ways to support you and our community. By continuing to be a part of our Y you’re helping us deploy and expand these resources and services.
- Food Distribution to Those in Need – We are continuing our partnership with schools and other agencies to distribute food to children, families and seniors in need.
- Reaching Out – We are reaching out to the seniors in our community to offer support as needed.
- Family Resources – With recent school closures, families are adjusting to a new normal. It can be overwhelming to contemplate what to do with all this new-found time. To help, we’ve compiled educational and fun resources for parents and children. You can access those resources here.
- Virtual Group Exercise Classes – We continue to share resources to keep our members and participants alone but together. You can visit your Virtual YMCA here.
There is much more work ahead for our Y. Moving forward, we’ll share updates and additional resources with you as well as keep you informed on our efforts to support our community. Continue to visit our website for the most up-to-date information on our YMCA.
Again, I want to thank you for being a part of our Y Community, for your partnership, your support and your trust. For the past 40 years, your Family Y has always been here for the community, now we need for you to support us. Under every crisis, our Y Community has come together to do extraordinary things in uncertain times. I am inspired by our community response.
We’re in this together, and together, we’ll emerge stronger.
