The YMCA is more than buildings and programs. The YMCA is about building people.

The YMCA of Niagara is ready to launch the annual Stronger Together Community Campaign for 2022 as they begin registration for in-person programs and services for children and youth. The YMCA is staging the reactivation of programming to meet the emerging needs of children, youth and families to reconnect mentally and physically.

As our community emerges from the challenges of the pandemic, now more than ever the YMCA family programs and services are needed. Youth need to unplug and reconnect socially. Over the past two years, youth have spent, on average, 44 hours in front of a screen each week and very few young people are meeting Canada’s minimum recommendations for daily physical activity.

Changes to the labour market and rising inflation is leaving many families struggling. In Niagara, one in four families spend 30% or more of their income on housing costs. Pre-pandemic, the YMCA of Niagara provided over $1.2 Million per year in financial assistance to ensure that local families had access to YMCA programs. It is anticipated that there will be an even greater need for financial assistance coming out of the pandemic.

“The YMCA of Niagara Stronger Together Community Campaign 2022 gives children the opportunity, no matter their financial circumstances, to access YMCA programs and be part of a supportive community,” says Steven Chuang, CEO of YMCA of Niagara. “The YMCA is playing a significant role in the economic and social recovery of communities post-Pandemic and that includes ensuring kids and their families continue to have access to the resources they need for their physical and mental health.”

The Stronger Together Community Campaign will support the following YMCA programs for children and youth in Niagara: Adventure Club, Day Camp, Youth Action, and Making Waves. With your help the YMCA of Niagara will secure $180,000 in donations to assist in their capacity to serve the growing needs of the community. Together we are Stronger!

For more information on these individual programs and to help donate monthly, please visit www.ymcaofniagara.org/opportunities-to-give

About the YMCA of Niagara

The YMCA is one of the oldest, most established charities in Canada, open to all, providing leadership and opportunities for people and their communities to grow in spirit, mind, and body. Their focus is on inclusiveness and accessibility, which means they serve people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities through all stages of life.