for immediate release
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YMCA Pivots its Focus and Buildings to Serve Community
Chattanooga, TN (March 19, 2020) – This week, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga made the difficult decision to close its 4 main branches (Downtown, Cleveland, Hamilton and North River) for an estimated two weeks. The decision was made from an abundance of concern for its members and community, along with CDC guidelines. However, the organization is now shifting focus on how to repurpose its physical buildings and resources to meet community needs during this season.
“It’s unfortunate that our closing for 2 weeks has disrupted everyone’s routines,” said President & CEO Janet Dunn. “We wish that were not the case, but the Y is more than the services that are physically seen in our buildings. We have a long legacy of meeting community needs and now is when we put that into action as a change maker.”
This week the Y announced it would focus on the following community needs:
- A partnership effort to provide healthy meals to kids in the community between March 17-27 at 25 community sites and over 90 bus stops in partnerships with Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA). Our coordinators are working in conjunction with Hamilton County Schools Department of School Nutrition and other local partners. While the Y currently has plenty of volunteers in place, anyone who wants to help can donate by texting YMEALS4KIDS to 41444.
- Repurposing buildings to become Community Response Centers which will offer daycare services to healthcare workers’ children. The Y will serve healthcare workers at Tennova, Parkridge and Memorial hospitals. Registration will begin today on site at the hospitals and the daycare/camp services will begin at Y locations next week. Staff training will be administered by a physician and special precaution will be put in place to take temperatures of all staff and children daily, as well as increased cleaning efforts practiced.
- Increased communication with the Y’s most vulnerable population, its Seniors. The Y will make concerted efforts to reach out to its senior population and ensure they are not isolated and have the services and support they need.
While the above community efforts are running, the Y is still staying engaged with all members, providing them with virtual healthy living options, and encouraging members to stay with them during this brief closure.
“Our members play a vital role in the work we’re doing,” said Dunn. “They enable us to do this work for the good of the community.”
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About the Y
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga is 147 years old and today serves more than 60,000 members—strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Its programs reach 120 area locations and serve 12 counties throughout Southeast TN and North GA. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 22 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background, nurturing the potential of children and teens, improving the nation’s health and well-being, and providing opportunities to give back and support the community. The Y has long-standing relationships and its physical presence is not just to promise, but to deliver lasting personal and social change. ymca.net www.ymcachattanooga.org