The YMCA of Northern BC says it’s committed to hosting safe events in the summer for children that utilize its many programs for the sake of their mental health.
Today (Feb. 16) was the official launch of the Prince George non-profit’s 2021 Strong Kids campaign, to which the goal, as always, is to collectively raise $60,000 to help one-in-five children and families in the community to access their programs.
With COVID-19 causing stigmas in more ways than one, CEO Amanda Alexander points to mental health and wellness programs the YMCA is hoping to tend to this summer that will require an assist from local residents.
“We’re really committed to making camp happen,” she said to PrinceGeorgeMatters following today’s announcement, noting the inclusion of Camp Kanannaq and Aurora Leadership, as well as YMCA Beyond the Bell aiding children affected by financial challenges.
“So right now, we’re scenario planning and all the different things of how we might be able to offer a camp experience. We know some of the conditions that we can offer, which means one child in one tent and that means we’ll need to purchase more equipment so that we can make that standard accessible. So lots of weight in needing to look different [...] it just takes a lot of planning, but we know that mental wellness has been such a dramatic impact to all of us and our children need to be able to gather, to connect and have that healing part of being in nature. So we’re committed to making that work and we need the community’s support to do that.”
Last year, Alexander explained more than 300 young kids were able to participate in COVID-19-safe camp programs, and the YMCA was also able to offer emergency care for essential service workers.
She says while this provided a positive for some, the organization also endured its own ups and downs, which included facility closures, layoffs and reduced membership revenue.
“I think what’s really important is our healing moving forward,” Alexander remarked when asked by PrinceGeorgeMatters about the need for donations this year.
“We know we’re going to need our centres of community, for people to have connection and access to physical activity and wellness supports. We need this more than ever before, not just the YMCA but our communities and as a result, that’s why it’s so important to give.”
The Strong Kids campaign runs until Aug. 31, which is set to include the annual YMCA MEGATHON on March 13, albeit virtual under the current COVID-19 public health orders in B.C.
Of its $10,000 goal in that specific event, $3,000 was kickstarted from local philanthropist John Brink.
In addition, donations have also come in from the YMCA of Northern BC’s own staff of more than $6,800.
For more information on the Strong Kids campaign, you can visit the organization’s website.
The City of Prince George has also proclaimed Feb. 15 to March as YMCA Strong Kids Month, much to Alexander’s delight.
"They know how important it is to our communities and the people who live here. We’ll be working diligently to reach out through social media to be able to say this is something really important that our communities need more than ever before and that sense of connection that we do and can continue to offer."
