Missy Fandrick, executive director of United Way of Southeastern Alberta, presents Sharon Hayward, CEO of the YMCA of Medicine Hat, with a $30,000 cheque to directly reduce the cost of its day camp programs this summer.--NEWS PHOTO KELLEN TANIGUCHI
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The YMCA of Medicine Hat was presented with two cheques totalling $31,000 on Friday morning to help with the affordability of its summer day camp program.
The United Way of South Eastern Alberta awarded the YMCA with $30,000, which will cut day camp fees in half for children this summer. Families will pay $100 per week for their child to participate in the YMCA’s day camp this year, which is the most affordable price it has, says Sharon Hayward, CEO of the YMCA of Medicine Hat.
“They’ve been long-term supporters of the YMCA and we’re so grateful for that,” said Hayward. “They’ve allowed the YMCA to put hundreds of children through day camps and the impact of that for children who get to have fun and get to make friends, there is probably no words for it.”
Hayward says only licensed day camps for school-aged programs are currently allowed to operate and she expects a busy year.
“Especially if they’re only allowing the licensed childcare programs to run, there’s not a lot of those in the city,” she said. “We do think it will be busy and of course we operate very safely. We take the COVID restrictions very seriously, so parents can be rest assured when their kiddos come in that it’s a safe place to be and they’ll have fun.”
The cost of day camps are already 50 per cent of the cost because of the United Way’s funding, however if families are still struggling to cover the cost there are still ways for parents to send their kids to the day camps, says Hayward.
Sunrise Rotary in The Hat also presented the YMCA with a $1,000 cheque on Friday morning, with funds being used for the YMCA’s Strong Kids program, which helps reduce financial barriers to accessing memberships or day camps.
“People are struggling with the pandemic and people still need to go to work,” said Hayward. “Childcare is essential and there is a big gap in the city when it comes to options for school-aged kids when school is out … a thousand dollars will send kids to day camp, it will help children and different adults and families have access to our programs and our facilities and ensure that the community is healthy.”
Hayward says the Strong Kids program provided $180,489 in financial assistance during 2019-20.
“As a charity we can’t do what we do without the support of organizations like Sunrise Rotary and the United Way,” she said.
Day camps will run Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with full details including program locations becoming available in early May on the YMCA’s website.
