Young Men & Womens Christian Assn Of Newark & Vicinity

SINCE 1881, THE NEWARK YMCA HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY THROUGH AN ARRAY OF SERVICES AND IS KNOWN FOR DELIVERING INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS LOCAL NEEDS. THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, THE NEWARK YMCA HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH SCHOOLS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO IDENTIFY AND RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS, IN AN EFFORT TO SERVE ALL FAMILIES IN A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE WAY, WITH A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY CONNECTED WITH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. THE NEWARK YMCA IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF YOUTH, PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING AND FOSTERING A SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: LAST YEAR, 1818 PEOPLE FOUND SAFE, SUPPORTIVE SHELTER AT THE Y; OF THIS NUMBER, MORE THAN 368 WERE CHILDREN. THE YMCA PROVIDES SHELTER, FOOD PANTRY, COUNSELING, AND REFERRALS. OUR YOUTH SHELTER OFFERS COUNSELING, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND OTHER CRITICAL SUPPORT TO TEENS IN CRISIS. YES AND ERC HAVE PROVIDED LIFE-CHANGING SERVICES TO MORE THAN 60 YOUTH OVER THE PAST YEAR. NURTURING CASEWORKERS HELP YOUTH GET BACK TO SCHOOL, RE-ESTABLISH FAMILY BONDS, AND MEET THEIR GOALS. RECENT EVALUATIONS SHOW THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT 90% OF YOUTH WITH AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OR TUTORING SERVICES. OUR YMCA ASSISTED 216 RESIDENTS IN OUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES PERMANENT HOUSING TO CHRONICALLY HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES EACH ADULT WITHIN THE FAMILY WITH NECESSARY ON-SITE SERVICES THAT ARE DETERMINED TO BE NECESSARY BASED ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS ASSESSMENTS. THE PROGRAM GOAL IS TO DECREASE THE CURRENT LEVEL OF RECIDIVISM OF HOMELESSNESS.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: THE YMCA OPERATES AFTERSCHOOL AND CAMP PROGRAMS IN HUDSON AND ESSEX COUNTIES. DUE TO COVID-19 AND FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND STAFF; WE MOVED THE PROGRAMS TO REMOTE LEARNING PROVIDING THE STUDENTS AND KIDS WITH THE SAME QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCE WHILE USING SMART TECHNOLOGIES LIKE ZOOM. THE YMCA IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE THESE ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS TO KIDS DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. IN 2020, THE YMCA SERVED MORE THAN 300 KIDS IN THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS IN HUDSON COUNTY AND SUSPENDED THE PROGRAMS IN ESSEX COUNTY DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL. DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, OUR SCIENCE EXPLORER'S CLUB INTRODUCES CHILDREN TO THE EXCITEMENT OF STEM LEARNING. THE NEWARK YMCA HAS RUN SUMMER CAMPS FOR OVER 100 YEARS. DESPITE THE CHALLENGES POSED BY COVID-19, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT, PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN JERSEY CITY AND RESIDENTS OF NEWARK TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT SUMMER PROGRAMS TO MORE THAN 140 CHILDREN. THE NEWARK YMCA IS A QUALIFIED PROVIDER SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. OUR CAMP LINWOOD MACDONALD PROVIDES SUPERB ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS IN A RESIDENTIAL CAMP. THIS PAST YEAR, THE YMCA COULD NOT PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL CAMP SERVICES LIKE OTHER YEARS DUE TO THE HEALTHY CRISIS.

HEALTHY LIVING: LAST YEAR, WITH COVID-19 PANDEMIC WE WERE CLOSED FROM 04/23/2021. OUR YMCA ASSISTED 83 MEMBERS TO ENSURE THEY MET THEIR HEALTH AND FITNESS GOALS IN 2021.