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Thanks to a $5 million grant from the Walmart Foundation, the YMCA is providing healthy food options to address hunger across the country this summer.
Kids between the ages of 5 and 18 years old will receive nutritious meals and snacks at hundreds of locations with the goal of serving 4 million healthy meals and snacks to 100,000 kids.
During the summer, many children are at an increased risk of going hungry. While more than 30 million children in low income communities receive free or reduced price meals through the National School Lunch Program during the school year, barely 8% of those same children have access to free meals when school is not in session.
Here in Spokane, our Ys received $20,000 from the Walmart Foundation this year to implement a year-round food program. The grant supplements healthy snacks for children after school and provides meals during the summer months.
Children at Shiloh Hills and Trent Elementary create make-and-take meals with their parents for the weekends, and monthly Family Night events include a healthy meal. With our Summer Day Camps, all children will receive both breakfast and lunch.
Our sites are "open", meaning that any hungry child can receive breakfast and lunch at our Summer Day Camp sites Monday through Friday. If you know a child who can benefit from this meal program, please call (509) 777-9622 for more details.
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The Monroe Street Bridge will be closed starting June 3rd for the installation of new man holes and piping. Traffic will be detoured to the Washington Bridge for the duration of the street closure.
The Monroe Street Bridge is scheduled to be reopened on June 17th. Luckily, there are still many ways to get to the Central Y!
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From toddlers to retirees, the Y offers swimming and other water exercise opportunities for every age group and ability level.
Our goal in all of our aquatic programs is for people to be safe and enjoy being active in and around the water. Whether you're at the Y, the beach, the lake or the neighborhood pool this summer, make these promises to yourself and the kids in your care:
- I will make sure my children learn to swim
- If I can't swim, I will learn
- I will make sure Coast Guard-approved life jackets are worn by all non-swimmers
- I will maintain visual contact with my child
- I won't swim or allow children to swim when there is no lifeguard on duty
- I won't dive or jump or allow children to dive or jump where the water depth is unknown
- I will stay no more than an arm's length away from any child who cannot swim
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Did you know we have a Child Care Center at the Central Y? We are invested in providing high quality child care for you and your child - with positive & healthy relationships, engaging and diverse activities, and an open spacious environment with an emphasis on safety & health.
Child Care Gardening Project:
The children have been busy this spring cleaning out the Children's Garden on the south side of the Central building and have begun to plant fruits and vegetables including strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, rutabaga, zucchini, purple carrots and much more.
The children will care for the little crop throughout the growing season and once harvested will enjoy the fruits of their labor in their classroom meals and snacks. The Children's Center is collaborating with Mindy Wallis, our own Healthy Living Coordinator for the YMCA, in hosting a nutritious and fun family event in June.
Children and families will plant lettuce to take home and grow in reusable grocery bags and participate in a healthy eating activity for the whole family to sample and enjoy! What a great way to get the whole family involved in making nutritious choices together in a fun and yummy way!
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We'd love to hear from you! Tell us...
How are you planning to stay involved at the YMCA during the summer months?
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