As we move into the fourth week of this “new normal” world in which we’re living, here at the Y we’ve worked hard at reorienting our programmatic focus to serve the community in different ways while managing what is clearly a dire emergency for the long-term health and stability of not only our neighbors but also our Y.
Although sleep isn’t an outmoded human need, Y volunteers, partners and associates remain relentless and unbowed in the face of this crisis.
For example, this past Friday every spot was taken for the blood drive we hosted for the Red Cross at the Y’s Training Center on Caton Avenue. The drive yielded 42 pints of blood to aid in the raging health care battle we are currently in which has, among its other challenges, also produced a critical shortage in the supply of blood needed in our region. By the way, 42 pints of blood can be used to save 126 lives.
Then, without blinking an eye and with zero fanfare, our team sprung back into action bright and early Saturday morning to support a food giveaway at the Orokawa Y in Towson, thanks in part to our friends at University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, Baugher's Farm and Wegmans, along with a team of seemingly indefatigable Y associates. Donated items included 200 Firehouse subs, backpacks stuffed with groceries, and Easter egg fun packets for the kids.
These two back to back examples represent just a tiny fraction of the compassion and resilience which defines Y work and has certainly earned Y volunteers, partners and associates a prominent place on the pages of the way the community response story of the COVID 19 crisis in central Maryland will be written.
Thanks to everyone who is making all of this happen in the face of an unprecedented public health and financial crisis. It speaks volumes.
All the best,
John
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland