Campaign raises money for financial assistance
More than 50 volunteers have been working for the last few weeks
to collect money for the YMCA of San Benito County, through sharing
stories of their experiences with the Y with friends, coworkers,
business owners and individuals.
The annual Community Support Campaign kicked of Feb. 15 with a
dinner at Cheung Sheng. Cesar Flores, one of many volunteers,
talked about his experiences at the YMCA as a boy growing up in
Texas. He recalled the sock hops of yesteryear and other activities
supported by the agency.
Campaign raises money for financial assistance
More than 50 volunteers have been working for the last few weeks to collect money for the YMCA of San Benito County, through sharing stories of their experiences with the Y with friends, coworkers, business owners and individuals.
The annual Community Support Campaign kicked of Feb. 15 with a dinner at Cheung Sheng. Cesar Flores, one of many volunteers, talked about his experiences at the YMCA as a boy growing up in Texas. He recalled the sock hops of yesteryear and other activities supported by the agency.
The campaign lasts six weeks and the goal is to collect $100,000, said Rochelle Callis, the regional vice president for the Central Coast YMCA. The volunteers meet a couple times over lunch, including a recent meeting at Cafe Ella, and then will finish off the campaign with a celebration dinner at San Juan Oaks March 22.
“The volunteers are raising money, but we also have businesses helping us in our campaign, keeping our costs low by donating dinners or lunches,” Callis said.
She added that 95 percent of every dollar collected stays in San Benito County.
The main goal of the Community Support Campaign, which YMCA chapters nationwide sponsor every year, is to collect money to keep the cost of local programs low. The money collected is used for financial assistance, up to 50 percent of a program’s cost for qualifying families, and to subsidize the cost of some of the programs.
“In financial assistance and program subsidies, we gave over $92,000 (last year,)” Callis said. “We served more than 769 children in the after school program.”
Callis said that they have had adults and children apply and qualify for financial assistance in all the programs offered, which run the gamut from the after school program, break camps, youth sports, health and wellness classes and more.
This year, Callis said they have more volunteers working on the campaign, with at least 50 people going out into the community to collect money. Callis said there are some new people who haven’t been involved in the past.
“Anyone who wants to get involved or join a meeting can call our office and see when the next one is,” Callis said. “People feel strongly about what the YMCA does and are willing to share their stories for six weeks.”
In the past, Callis has never had to turn any family away that qualified for financial aid.
“The more money that is earned, the more we can give back to the community,” Callis said.
Many of the YMCA’s efforts are part of a campaign to support health and wellness efforts in the community. The YMCA has recently extended their office hours on Monday through Thursday to 7:30 p.m. so that members can use the circuit training equipment and spin bicycles. They have also added an evening Zumba class on Tuesdays and a Pilates class on Thursdays.
“Our sports for elementary schools has really taken off with K through second grade,” Callis said, of a program that started just a few weeks ago, where kids practice after school once a week and then gather on two Saturdays during the season for a tournament.
For the first tournament of the season, at least 150 family members and friends turned out to watch the students play. The next step will be to expand the program to third and fourth grades.
“They are moving in a safe environment,” Callis said. “They have good role models. These kids are great out there, having fun, and being supportive of each other.”
In addition, the YMCA recently received a grant from the Health Trust along with other partners including the San Benito Chamber of Commerce, the Hollister School District, the Community Foundation for San Benito County and San Benito Bounty. The planning grant will allow the partners to gather input from the community on what is needed to make elementary school and middle school children healthier in the community.
“It’s basically a planning grant,” Callis said. “It’s an opportunity to gather data and come up with some bigger picture of the type of things that will have to do with changing the environment.”
The grant planning will launch later in March and for now Callis is focused on the Community Support Campaign.
“A huge thank you to the community and San Benito County for support and having confidence in the Y and what we are doing,” Callis said. “It is very much appreciated.”
To find out more about the Community Support Campaign, or to donate, call 637-8600 or visit www.centralcoastymca.org.
By the numbers
769 children use after-school care
83 youth participate in basketball
121 children use day camp
28 youth use karate
