Grantee Spotlight: YMCA of the Twin Tiers

Project Play Western New York appreciates the role our partners across the region play in allowing kids to be active, particularly at a time when so many things in their lives have changed. As everyone works through the challenges of 2020, these organizations are providing families access to vital sports and activities.

The YMCA of the Twin Tiers serves more than 11,000 members, and an additional 3,000 members of the community participated at branches in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and McKean (Pennsylvania) counties. In addition, Twin Tiers also provides after school childcare at nine licensed sites in seven school districts and two YMCA Child Care & Early Learning Centers.  At a time when so many things in our lives are closed or canceled, the YMCA continues to provide services and activities for the well-being of kids and families in the community.

As a recipient of The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Youth Sports COVID-19 Fund, the YMCA of the Twin Tiers was able to assemble and distribute 1,500 “Y in a Bag” PlayPacks in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties. The packs consisted of the Project Play WNY Free Play cards and equipment needed to play the games, including a playground ball, jump ropes, tennis balls, and chalk. The PlayPacks were created to encourage and motivate kids and families to be active throughout the summer months. The YMCA’s PlayPack program also provided opportunities for youth in rural areas to have access to sports and play activities during the summer months.  Each week kids received an introductory session that showed kids how to use the equipment, followed by communication with families to explore more ways to have fun using the equipment. For more information about the YMCA of the Twin Tiers, visit www.twintiersymca.org. If your organization would like to partner with Project Play WNY, please contact us at projectplaywny@cfgb.org.