Valley Shore Ymca

VALLEY SHORE YMCA MISSION IS TO DEVELOP AND ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF ALL INDIVIDUALS IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF MUTUAL RESPECT. AREAS OF FOCUS ARE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

HEALTHY LIVING - THE Y IS A LEADING VOICE ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. WE BRING FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, ENCOURAGE GOOD HEALTH AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS THROUGH FITNESS, SPORTS, FUN AND SHARED INTERESTS. AS A RESULT, OVER 5000 PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY MAY RECEIVE THE SUPPORT, GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE GREATER HEALTH IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AS OUR NATION STRUGGLES WITH AN OBESITY CRISIS, FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH WORK/LIFE BALANCE AND INDIVIDUALS SEARCH FOR PERSONAL FULFILLMENT AND SOCIALIZATION. WE TYPICALLY PROVIDE A VARIETY OF CLASSES, SPORTS LEAGUES, INSTRUCTION, WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS AND WELLNESS ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SWIMMING, TO ENSURE MEMBERS CAN MAINTAIN AN EFFECTIVE LIFESTYLE. WE OPENED A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FITNESS CENTER IN 2022. OUR PROGRAMS ARE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE AND OPEN TO ALL FAITHS, BACKGROUNDS, ABILITIES AND INCOME LEVELS. IN 2023, WE PROVIDED $114,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE. ADDITIONALLY, APPROXIMATELY 27% OF OUR MEMBERS ARE ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS AND WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENIOR MEMBERS TO SOCIALIZE, IMPROVE THEIR PHYSICAL FITNESS TO BE ABLE TO LEAD MORE ACTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES IN RETIREMENT. 73% OF OUR SENIORS IN 2023 WERE ON A NO-COST OR LOW COST INSURANCE PLAN AND 26% RECEIVE SENIOR DISCOUNTS SUBSIDIZED BY OUR MEMBERSHIP AND DONORS.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OUR YMCA IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL KIDS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. THAT IS WHY WE HELP YOUNG PEOPLE CULTIVATE THE VALUES, SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, BETTER HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT. OUR YMCA PROGRAMS, SUCH AS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE, SUMMER CAMP, YOUTH SPORTS, YOUTH SWIM PROGRAMS, AND OTHER YOUTH ACTIVITIES OFFER A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH. OUR BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDED OVER 180 CHILDREN IN TWO TOWNS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY, SOCIALIZE AND LEARN WITH THEIR CLASSMATES IN A SAFE AND FUN ENVIRONMENT WHICH ENABLES PARENTS TO WORK WITH PEACE OF MIND THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE WELL CARED FOR. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A LACK OF AFFORDABLE DAY CARE IN OUR AREA FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S YOUNGEST CHILDREN. IN 2023 WE BEGAN A NEW PRESCHOOL PROGRAM FOR BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE AS A VALUABLE DAY CARE OPTION FOR WORKING PARENTS AND WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND CHILDCARE SERVICES. THE YMCA BELIEVES THAT CAMPING SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTES TO THE HEALTHY GROWTH OF CHILDREN BY TEACHING THEM INDEPENDENCE, DECISION-MAKING, CREATIVITY AND IMPORTANT SOCIAL SKILLS. DAY CAMP HAS ALSO BECOME A PRIMARY SOURCE OF CHILDCARE FOR WORKING PARENTS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND WAS THERE WAS A CRITICAL NEED TO GET KIDS BACK TO PLAY AND SOCIALIZATION. IN 2023 WE CREATED AN AWARD WINNING SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM COMBINING CAMP FUN WITH AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT TO SERVE CHILDREN WHO NEEDED SOME EXTRA SUPPORT WITHOUT THE STIGMA OF "SUMMER SCHOOL". DROWNING IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN CHILDREN. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THE KIDS WHO LIVE IN OUR SHORELINE COMMUNITIES HAVE THE BASIC SAFETY AND SWIM SKILLS TO BE SAFE AROUND AND WITHIN THE WATER. IN 2023 WE PROVIDED OVER 1600 SWIM LESSONS TO CLOSE TO 800 CHILDREN. IN 2023 WE ALSO OPERATED OUR COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM COMPRISED OF OVER 60 YOUNG ATHLETES TO ALLOW THEM TO LEARN STROKES, DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AND BE PART OF A TEAM.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OUR YMCA BELIEVES IN GIVING BACK AND SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS. WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST CRITICAL SOCIAL NEEDS. YMCA PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE YMCA COMMUNITY GARDEN WHERE ALL PRODUCE IS DELIVERED TO LOCAL FOOD PANTRY, TEACHING CPR, FIRST AID AND LIFE SAVING CLASSES TO OUR COMMUNITY, SENIOR FORUMS, BLOOD DRIVES AND COMMUNITY GROUP ACCESS TO OUR FACILITY ARE EXAMPLES OF HOW WE DELIVER TRAINING, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THAT EMPOWER OUR NEIGHBORS TO EFFECT CHANGE, BRIDGE GAPS AND OVERCOME OBSTACLES. WE ENGAGE YMCA MEMBERS, PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS IN ACTIVITIES THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY AND PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO THRIVE.