By: Community Magazine | November 5, 2020 | Philanthropy , Local , Events | Red Bank , Shrewsbury
Response to COVID-19 Crisis is Largest Outreach Effort in Y’s 146-Year History as a Cause Driven Community Organization
The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County pivoted immediately when its facilities shut down in March as the COVID crisis started. The gym floors, exercise spaces and pools were vacant, but employees and volunteers jumped into action to respond to critical community needs.
Working in partnership with area food banks and community organizations, the Y has been distributing hundreds of meals and food supplies four days a week at its facilities in Freehold, Middletown, Old Bridge and Red Bank. The Y initiated and carried out blood drives and COVID-19 testing at several facilities. The Y also offered emergency childcare for essential workers, and mental health services for community members struggling during the crisis.
Y President and CEO Laurie Goganzer said, “We knew that this unprecedented event would compound stress factors for people in our community who were already struggling to make ends meet. The added pressure of social isolation, health and safety fears, concerns about job loss and food insecurity would have a big impact on those we served. We identified our most immediate needs and did what we could to become a critical safety net and support system.”
The Freehold Borough YMCA remains one of the busiest locations among the Y’s branches in Monmouth and Middlesex counties. Three days every week, families and seniors gather at the Freehold Y for crisis relief boxes from Fulfill, fresh produce from the Freehold Safety Net Group and other food donated to the Y. Nearly 8,000 free meals have been distributed by the Freehold Y since the start of the health crisis.
“The community response to support the food relief efforts in Freehold has been invaluable,” according to Jo Ann Rountree, the Y’s senior director of community outreach, who oversees the food distribution in Freehold.
“In addition to Fulfill and the Freehold Safety Net, Investors Bank, ShopRite, Panera Bread, Meet the Need and a local farm have contributed fresh fruit and vegetables, baked goods and prepared foods,” Rountree added. Goganzer said dozens of volunteers have worked more than 160 hours assisting with the recent food distribution and food drives – all part of the Y’s Togetherhood® initiative, which recruits Y members to provide support outside the walls of the Y.
The Y has also collected nonperishable food, infant formula, diapers, and hygiene items for Lunch Break, Fulfill and the Old Bridge Township Food Bank.
The Y will continue food distribution at these locations until further notice: Freehold Borough YMCA, 41 Center Street, Freehold; Red Bank Family YMCA, 166 Maple Avenue, Red Bank; Old Bridge Family YMCA, 1 Mannino Park Drive, Old Bridge; and Bayshore Family Success Center, 945 NJ-36, Leonardo.
For more information on food distribution, donations, volunteering or other Y programs and services, connect with the Y at ymcanj.org or on social media by following @ymcaGMC.