FULTON – The Fulton Family YMCA will increase its school age childcare program as the new school year begins to meet the increased need in the community for safe, reliable care for their children.
The YMCA will offer more slots for children, increase its hours of service and offer those services in more locations, all to meet the added need caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the changes in work and school schedules.
The Fulton Family YMCA has been working with local community organizations and the Fulton City School District to fill the gaps of childcare and education needs for the upcoming school year.
The Before and After school childcare program will expand out to all four elementary schools within the district to offer care Tuesday’s through Friday’s from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
On Monday’s, when the district closes for their deep cleaning day, the YMCA will host the children from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and offer educational support for virtual learning.
In addition to school age childcare the Y is expanding to full day childcare services for infants, toddlers and preschool which will launch this fall.
“YMCAs exist to meet needs in the community and we have remained active even as the pandemic forced our building to close,” said Amy Leotta, Fulton Family YMCA CEO. “We have heard from many parents that additional child care service is badly needed and we have worked non-stop through this crisis to find ways to provide those services.”
The YMCA will also offer full day daycare to children from ages 6 months to preschool and school extension programs to assist with virtual learning and specialized classes in art, physical education and STEM as other facets of its response to the pandemic.
The agency’s response to the community’s need during this crisis has been impressive. Efforts have included:
- Providing emergency childcare for children of first responders and critical workers;
- Making wellness calls to vulnerable members and delivering to their homes boxes of fresh produce for free;
- Collecting more than 600 items to be donated to food pantries;
- Hosting and staffing the Fulton Farmer’s Market in drive-thru format starting in June and continuing to provide staff assistance after the market returned to downtown Fulton;
- Took many YMCA social programs online, offering virtual instruction in yoga, music and more as well as keeping the valuable Girls Rock program going;
- Replaced the roof, deep-cleaned and painted the building’s rooms and made needed repairs to flooring and more.
Currently, classes are being offered outdoors when the weather cooperates and the therapeutic pool has reopened as YMCAs across the state await updated guidance from the state that will allow them to reopen fully.
“When members can return to the building, they will find that deep-cleaning and sanitizing protocols will be in place for their safety,” Leotta said. “We are fully committed to embracing this ‘new normal’ and are working hard to find even more ways to serve our community.”
The Fulton Family YMCA is part of a powerful association of men, women and children committed to bringing about lasting personal and social change. With a focus on nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving the community health and well-being and providing opportunities to give back and support neighbors, the Y enables youth, adults, families and communities to be healthy, confident, connected and secure.
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