Dear Members & Staff,

I love summer. The days are longer and slower, but here at the Dow Bay Area Family YMCA, the days buzz with activity: the sounds of day campers and sports camps at play, aquatics camps and lessons, youth food service, members, guests, and volunteers.  Our staff works so hard every day serving the needs of our community. I couldn’t ask for more from our team! 

I especially want to lift up our Maintenance and Janitorial team in appreciation for their commitment to working as a team to keep the facility clean and organized. We have made some changes to how we clean our building, and they have embraced the changes despite staffing challenges. Keep up the great work! 

We step up to meet interesting challenges and opportunities every day here at the Y and have so much to be thankful for and proud of.  From our anti-hunger programs to our Fitness Floor, we continue to positively impact our community: 

• Providing 16 new spin bikes and new strength equipment on a reorganized Fitness Floor 
• Raising $4,623 in our Give Local Bay Campaign 
• Serving 216 kids in summer day camps and sports camps throughout the month of June alone 
• Opening our Community Care Closet in the YMCA lobby 
• Serving 7,397 meals and snacks at four youth summer food service sites in the month of June! (This summer, we are offering free meals to anyone age 18 and under at Dow Bay Area Family YMCA, 1st Presbyterian Church, Maplewood Park, and [new this year!] a drive-up, rural Meet Up and Eat Up site at Hampton Township Police Department on Fridays in which a child will receive 7 days of breakfasts and lunches in one pick up!)   

We serve our community through amazing programs and offerings such as these, but it is how we treat and respect others that brings our mission to life each day. We want everyone to feel welcome as they enter our facility, and I feel that we do our best each day to make this possible. 

I hope you have a safe and happy 4th of July weekend! I am excited to see those of you who purchased parking spots for our Bay City Fireworks fundraiser this Saturday.  It is going to be a great night!