Caring For Our Community
In all 133 years, the Eugene Family YMCA has not had a year quite like 2020.
It’s hard to imagine circumstances more difficult in which to respond than a global pandemic. Then, catastrophic wildfires, oppressive smoke and hazardous air quality created untold trauma for hundreds of thousands around us.
In its tried-and-true manner, your Y adapted, pivoted and adjusted its programs and services to best meet the needs of our community, particularly those people most affected by the upheaval around us.
In crisis mode ourselves, we opened the Y’s doors for those evacuated from the devastating wildfires. Responding to cooped up members unable to leave their homes due to the air quality, Y fitness instructors added virtual classes to compensate for the ones that were scheduled to be outside.
As the extent of our neighbors’ losses became more apparent, the Y found new ways to stand beside anguished individuals and families: by offering free child care and free 3-month memberships to those who lost their homes.
The wildfires raging in our backyard came just as school was slated to start. In preparing for youth development programs this fall, Y staff had already redesigned child care for full days and to support online learning from school districts. From March 16 and through the summer, staff honed rigorous COVID-19 health and safety protocols. So in keeping with the start of school, the Y welcomed little ones inside the Y’s doors while adjusting their COVID-19 protocols to also include hazardous air quality restrictions.
None of this was easy, but it was critical work to ensure that our community recovers stronger than ever from COVID-19 and wildfire impacts.
