Young Mens Christian Association Of Trenton

TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BY PUTTING CHRISTIAN VALUES AND PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT BUILD A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. OUR ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING ACCESS, INCLUSION AND ENGAGEMENT TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY OUR MOST VULNERABLE. WE ARE A MEMBER OF AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION WHICH ACCEPTS DIVERSITY, PROMOTES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:OUR YMCA IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL YOUTH DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. BECAUSE OF THIS BELIEF 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 PRESCHOOL, DAY CAMP, YOUTH SPORTS AND AFTER-SCHOOL OFFER A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH. EXPENSES INCLUDE SUBSIDIES AND DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT MAKE PARTICIPATION POSSIBLE FOR 80% OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WE ENGAGE. AS AN ORGANIZATION WE PRIORITIZE EXPOSING YOUNG PEOPLE TO NON-TRADITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL GIVE THEM EXPERIENCES FOR A LIFETIME OF ACCESS AND GROWTH.HEALTHY LIVING:THE Y THAT SERVES TRENTON, EWING AND LAWRENCE IS A LEADING VOICE ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THROUGHOUT THE REGION. AS AN ORGANIZATION WE CONNECT FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WHILE ENCOURAGING GOOD HEALTH, AND FOSTERING CONNECTIONS THROUGH FITNESS, SPORTS, FUN AND SHARED INTERESTS. AS A RESULT OF THE Y'S WORK, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, YOUTH AND SENIORS, ARE RECEIVING THE SUPPORT, GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE GREATER HEALTH IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. OUR ORGANIZATION IS STANDING IN THE GAP WORKING TO ERASE THE LINES OF HEALTH DISPARITIES THAT PLAGUE POOR AND URBAN COMMUNITIES AND PARTICULAR COMMUITIES OF COLOR. RECOGNIZING THAT OUR NATION STRUGGLES WITH ISSUES OF FOOD INSECURITY, OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE OUR ORGANIZATION OPENED A FARMERS MARKET IN DOWNTOWN TRENTON, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPLEMENTING A HEALTHY CORNER STORE INITIATIVE TO CREATE GREATER ACCESS TO THE MOST IMPACTED COMMUNITY IN THIS AREA, OVER 10,000 PEOPLE FELT THE IMPACT OF THIS WORK. RECOGNIZING THAT MANY OF THE 15,000 SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN IN TRENTON COMMUNITY LIVE IN POVERTY, 85% FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, WE BECAME THE LARGEST DISTRIBUTORS OF SUMMER & DINNER MEALS FOR YOUTH IN THE CITY OF TRENTON TO MEET THE NEED OF THE CHILDREN.SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:OUR Y BELIEVES IN SUPPORTING OUR SOCIETY'S MOST VULNERABLE CONSTITUENTS PARTICULARLY THE YOUTH AND OUR SENIORS. WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITIES MOST CRITICAL SOCIAL NEEDS FOR MANY YEARS. ENSURING THAT MORE THAN 200 CHILDREN HAD ACCESS TO A SAFE ENVIROMENT DURING THE SUMMER FOR CAMP REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. THE Y RAN AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM WITH ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT AND EXPOSURE TO NON-TRADITIONAL SPORTS SUCH AS, GOLF, TENNIS AND LACROSSE.

FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM: CONSISTS OF SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM (SFSP) AND CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP) WHICH ARE BOTH FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS TO FOOD TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. TYPICALLY THE PROGRAM SERVES A LARGE NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, BUT DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE NEED FOR THESE SERVICES TRIPLED SINCE MARCH 2020. BETWEEN JULY 2020 AND JUNE 2021, WE SERVED OVER 770,000 MEALS TO NEEDY FAMILIES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. INCLUDED IN THE FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM IS THE GREENWOOD AVENUE FARMERS MARKET (GAFM). THE GAFM IS THE ONLY URBAN FARMERS MARKET IN THE REGION AND IT PROVIDES ACCESS TO HEALTHY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES DURING THE SUMMER AND FALL MONTHS. THIS PROGRAM SEGMENT SERVED 5,000 PATRONS FROM JULY 2020 THROUGH OCTOBER 2020.