Unsurprisingly, the Monday Mission Updates that are the most read are those that share stories about an individual person. Novelists, journalists, historians and even erstwhile Y CEOs have long understood that it’s through human narratives that any of us can best understand any larger truth.
The Y’s vitality stems from the many remarkable individuals who intersect with us to come together as a community, in community. The countless and seemingly endless human stories that I get to share through this vehicle each week are a powerful testament to the larger narrative that is written by the Y every day, every year, and through the many decades that we’ve been around.
This includes:
- the countless Y members who overcome personal obstacles, large and small, to tend to their own health while also helping their family members do the same;
- the thousands of families across central Maryland who make the choice (and the sacrifices that go with it) to see that their children are enrolled in healthy Y programs which keep them safe, active, learning and growing;
- the scores of Y volunteers, generous donors and funders who regularly answer the call of civic duty in so many vitally important ways;
- the army of dedicated, talented Y associates, volunteers and partners who built a food distribution program from scratch less than two years ago, which has provided nearly one million meals to those in our community who lack proper access to healthy food;
- the Y associates who pivoted on a dime again and again to address the rapidly changing needs of children and families, including caring for children of first responders, supporting virtual learners while also planning for and safely delivering long-established Y youth programs like camp, early childhood education and before and after school enrichment programs;
- The cross-disciplinary group of Y associates who created and launched a successful virtual group exercise program while also managing to offer excellent and safe in-person exercise programs;
- The Y associates and partners who hosted vaccination sites at our Ys, providing over 2,000 COVID vaccines (with a 98% return rate for the second dose) and nearly 700 boosters thus far to help keep our community healthy and safe;
- The almost 13,000 community members who came together on Thanksgiving morning for the annual Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K, celebrating and supporting thriving communities and families.
For all these very human stories and narratives, and all of the ones I have yet to write about, I am filled with gratitude and appreciation as we close out 2021 and look forward to another year of lifting each other up in the face of whatever obstacles come our way.
Best wishes to you and your family for a happy, healthy holiday season. Thank you for the vital role you play in making our Y community strong.
All the best,
John
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland