Healthy Living, Healthy Community Blog

When Governor Jay Inslee announced school closures to slow the spread of the coronavirus on March 12, many parents were suddenly left without child care. Families needed to quickly figure out how to balance full-time caregiving and full-time homeschooling with their full-time jobs.

For more 125 years, the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of our community. And today, our community is going through unprecedented challenges as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though our doors may be closed, we are still working to meet the needs of our friends and neighbors in these uncertain times.

In the face of crisis, there are really two options: back down and let the circumstances dictate your future, or stand up and be part of the solution. So here we are, in the middle of a global pandemic. With both options on the table, which will you choose?

This is my second quarantine. The first time I isolated myself from the rest of the world, only two other people participated. It was March of 1998. The world I had known, the career I had planned, the life I had expected to live had just crumbled.

In this unique season, we are called to serve our community in unique ways. Today’s pandemic is a once-in-a-lifetime event, but the Y is no stranger to stepping into world-changing moments. We have a long history of adjusting to meet large-scale community needs.

In these unprecedented times, the Y is committed to addressing the new and changing needs of our community. Starting April 1, all membership accounts will be placed on hold. While we will not be collecting membership dues, we’re counting on your generosity more than ever.