To our Y family: Thank you for being patient while we’ve worked on decisions and logistics behind the scenes. These are hard times for everyone with many unknowns and moving parts.

We know that our community relies on our YMCA not only as a place to be active and exercise but also as a safe space where we can come together to build connections and find friendships. Now, more than ever, we need to band together to provide friends and families with the help and encouragement they need during these uncertain times. We are asking you to #StayWithUs as a cause-driven member so that we can continue our mission of strengthening community.

Ways we are taking action: Our YMCA has made ourselves available to our community partners to serve in any capacity that is needed. Several of our employees are working to help deliver food and prepare meals for kids who need them. Y staff are reaching out to assist teachers to organize and distribute learning materials to their students.  We expect our Active Older Adults population to look to the Y for support and we are committed to helping them as so many are self-quarantined for their own safety.

How the Y wants to engage you: Many of our Y staff are actively planning ways to interact with all of our Y family via social media, personal phone calls and more.  We have ideas to include ALL of our audiences, including those who want physical activity, those entertaining children, those who are home alone and need some social engagement, etc. Our program coordinators, afterschool staff, healthy living staff and many of your favorite faces are all involved, so stay tuned for our roll out real soon. Members also have access to on-demand exercise classes through Les Mills, which provides over 95 videos across 8 categories: including Youth Workouts, Training & Dance workouts, Post-Pregnancy Exercises, Quick HIIT Workouts and Technique shorts, as well as access to a 60 day free trial of Mossa Move, and the Y360 YouTube Channel.

We cannot do this alone. We need the help of YOU, our Y family. The Y is a cause that strengthens our community and we hope you’ll continue to be part of this bigger movement. Your membership fees will allow us to continue to provide services that are most needed during these difficult times. We cannot control how the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold but, we can control how we respond to it. We understand that everyone’s needs are different and we seek to accommodate every request but we ask you to consider the choice to #StayWithUs and be a part of a positive movement that brings us closer together and unites us as a community.

Again, thank you for the understanding that we’re all in this together, facing future days in the best ways we know how, knowing things may continue to change on a daily basis. We will continue to follow the recommendations of the CDC and Sullivan County Health Department but will do our best to open as soon as we can. We hope that you continue to #StayWithUs and partner with us. For the latest updates, visit bristolymca.net or our Facebook page.

Yours in Health,

Rick Matthews
President and CEO
YMCA of Bristol