Celebrating Y volunteers during National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week, which this year runs from April 18-24, gives us the chance to celebrate those who lend their time and service to our communities’ collective benefit. At the Y, volunteers play a hugely important role in fulfilling our mission to strengthen children, families, and communities. They assist with sports and community programming, serve on local boards, greet members, and so much more!

To honor our dedicated volunteers, we are pleased to share three unique perspectives on serving the Y. Here’s what three of our volunteers had to say:

Jeff, Lake View YMCA

Volunteering at the Y means I get to work with impressionable young kids and help them learn—about sports, sure, but also the life lessons that go along with that sport. Seeing kids realize their practice turns into success and the value of teamwork is hard to beat.

 

Austin, Fry Family YMCA

I’ve volunteered at the Y for nearly my entire life! When I’m at the Fry Family Y, I help clean machines, greet people, walk visitors to the pool and preschool, and answer phones. I love meeting different people, seeing what activities they are doing, and making new friends.

Conor, YMCA Camp Pinewood

Beyond the opportunity to give back to an organization that has had a profound impact on my development, volunteering at the Y allows me to support a mission grounded in making an impact at a local level in my community. The Y lives many of my personal values on a day-to-day basis, working to celebrate diversity, promote equality, and provide a space for self-expression. I know from experience how important the Y can be to the communities that they operate in and I am always happy to support their work however I can.

Volunteering at the Y is a great way to build community, meet service-minded individuals, and make a tangible difference in the lives of local children and families. To learn more about the many ways you can serve at the Y, visit our website.