Community members, Y donors and volunteers, along with town, county, and state leaders gathered with Gaston County Family YMCA staff in Cherryville on March 24 to celebrate the opening of the newly relocated Cherryville Family YMCA. The new location, just a short walk from the branch’s original location, is larger and has room for expansion to meet the growing needs of the community.

Working at the YMCA as a camp counselor or lifeguard provides teens and young adults with key career-building skills that they can take anywhere as they prepare for college or their career. The skills young Y staff learn, demonstrate and master translate to multiple situations and work environments that are on par with and often more valuable than an office internship.

The Goldsboro Family YMCA’s new Community Corner is a housing and staging area for donations of shelf-stable foods and personal items. But it’s so much more than that, according to Casey Young, Director of Community Impact for the Y. It’s part of their mission work to feed those in need in their community, and it has provided a new opportunity for member engagement and volunteerism.

North Carolina YMCAs provided nearly 2.5 million meals to children, adults and seniors in 2021 to fight food insecurity in the wake of COVID-19. In addition, YMCAs donated more than 640,000 pounds of food, including 430,000+ pounds of fresh, healthy produce, to nourish those in need.