YMCA News Archive

YMCA and The Sheridan Story Partner to Provide Free Nutritious Food During Unprecedented Pandemic

jeffrey.needham — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 12:57:09 +0000

YMCA and The Sheridan Story Partner to Provide Free Nutritious Food During Unprecedented Pandemic jeffrey.needham Wed, 03/25/2020 - 07:57

Minneapolis, MN – The Sheridan Story and the YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, are partnering to provide free, nourishing food to families in the community to ensure youth have food during unprecedented pandemic.

Over 10,000 food bags containing nearly 40,000 meals are being provided by The Sheridan Story and are available at 26 YMCA locations in the Twin Cities, Hudson and Rochester. Beginning March 25, families can stop by the front doors at designated Y sites and pick up a free bag of food. YMCA membership is not required. Supplies are limited. Please practice social distancing when picking up food.

“We have swiftly shifted to a model that can rapidly respond to the drastically larger food gap caused by statewide school closures, and the YMCA is a key partner making it possible to serve children and families,” said Rob Williams, executive director of The Sheridan Story.

“We are grateful to partner with The Sheridan Story to ensure all of our families in our community have access to food during this very difficult time and no child goes hungry,” said Glen Gunderson, president and CEO of the YMCA of the North.

For more information on the YMCA food distribution locations, go to www.ymcamn.org/food-distribution.

For those who may not have easy access to a Y, The Sheridan Story has been working closely with over 31 districts in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin to provide food at their designated food distribution points for their students. For families needing food, they should contact the school district in which they live to find out what nutrition resources are available during this time. Most school districts will not require enrollment of a child in the district in order to receive assistance; help is available to all children who reside within a district’s boundaries.

For more information on how to support YMCA community response programs and services, visit www.ymcamn.org/give. For information on how to support The Sheridan Story, go to www.thesheridanstory.org.

WHO: The YMCA of the North and The Sheridan Story

WHAT: To ensure youth and their families have nutritious food during the coronavirus crisis, the community can get a free bag of food while supplies last.

WHERE: Front doorways of YMCA of the North locations, including Rochester and Hudson, WI. See www.ymcamn.org/food-distribution for a full list of locations.

WHEN: Beginning Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

About the YMCA of the North

The YMCA of the North is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established 164 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 29 Y locations and program sites, eight overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage more than 370,000 men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. To learn more about the Y’s mission and work, visit www.ymcamn.org.

About The Sheridan Story

Over 200,000 children in Minnesota live in food insecurity – they don’t always know if they’ll have food for their next meal. In order to fight this devastating reality, The Sheridan Story focuses on the food gaps, the times throughout the year when children aren’t able to receive free and reduced meal programs at school. In the last six years, The Sheridan Story has grown from serving one school with a weekend food program to implementing multiple food gap programs serving over 10,000 children across 300 locations. To learn more visit www.thesheridanstory.org.

YMCA Provides School Age Care for Essential Employees and Critical Workers

jeffrey.needham — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 19:36:40 +0000

YMCA Provides School Age Care for Essential Employees and Critical Workers jeffrey.needham Fri, 03/20/2020 - 14:36

38 sites across Minnesota available to serve kindergarten through sixth grade

Minneapolis, MN – The YMCA, a leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, is collaborating with local government and health officials to deliver school age care for children in kindergarten through sixth grade (K-6) for essential employees and critical workers in 38 sites across the state of Minnesota.

Starting Monday, March 23, the YMCA sites are open for school age care from 8:30 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. These sites will operate in accordance with guidelines from the Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each child and Y staff person must meet strict health guidelines in order to participate. In the program, there is social distancing and the Y follows the most current guidelines to ensure safety.

“For over 164 years, the Y has been committed to youth development. And this commitment is even more important as we are facing unprecedented times where our children need a safe and nurturing place to go when their parents who are critical workers and essential employees need to work because they directly support the efforts to mitigate the impact the coronavirus has in our community,” said Glen Gunderson, president and CEO of the YMCA of the North. “Our children need a place where they can safely enjoy being a kid - learning new things by collaborating with the schools on remote learning, being active, and having fun while being supported by caring adults.”

Registration opens today and program details include:

Where: YMCA Statewide Site Locations – ymcamn.org/mnchildcare

When: Starting Monday, March 23 and Open Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Cost: $40 per day and kids bring a snack and lunches. Financial assistance is available for families.

Registration: First come, first served. To register please go to ymcamn.org/mnchildcare or call 612-230-9622.

About the YMCA of the North

YMCA Offers Mindfulness Programs and Services Designed to Lower Stress and Reduce Tension for Everyone

jeffrey.needham — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 16:42:02 +0000

YMCA Offers Mindfulness Programs and Services Designed to Lower Stress and Reduce Tension for Everyone jeffrey.needham Thu, 03/12/2020 - 11:42

The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, offers mindfulness programs and services to help people of all ages decrease stress, reduce anxiety, develop emotional and social intelligence, strengthen intuition and build a greater peace of mind.

Research indicates that mindfulness helps people suffering from stress, pain, trauma, and emotional, mental and social imbalances such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, irritable bowel syndrome and more. The Y teaches how mindfulness is a self-care practice that allows a person to transform how the mind reacts or relates to the world.

“Today’s world can be chaotic and challenging to navigate and then process experiences that happen to each of us and the Y is committed to showing how mindfulness can help,” said Sally St. John, senior director of wellbeing at the Y. “Mindfulness helps a person practice nonjudgement of thoughts, feelings and sensations and gives the body an opportunity to restore and repair on it its own terms.”

St. John further explains that mindfulness means having intention to be attentive, being open to the idea of being present and honest with oneself, and observing what’s happening rather than trying to control what’s happening.

The Y team provides mindfulness programs and services that are flexible and can meet the needs of each person. Examples include:

George Wellbeing Center - The George Wellbeing Center is a space for individuals and groups to prevent and address chronic health symptoms using evidence-informed, holistic healing approaches for mind, body, spirit and community. Mindfulness offerings include:
- Daily free mediation: a great way to begin or maintain a meditation practice in a group setting on a drop-in basis. During a group session, the Y instructor will guide people into a deeper state of calm as they sit or recline comfortably.
- Singing Bowl Mediation: crystal bowls are played to guide the body into a deeper state for calm as one sits or reclines comfortably.
- Qi Gong: a slow movement meditation from Traditional Chinese Medicine. “Qi” means breath or air and is the energy of the human being. “Gong” means the commitment or effort you put into practice.
- Yin Yoga: a quiet style of yoga that balances the more active (yang) movements. Yoga poses are held for one to five minutes to stimulate release or blocked energy channels and meridians.
MindUP – The Y offers MindUP, a mind-body curriculum of The Goldie Hawn Foundation that empowers children and teens through mindfulness-awareness training rooted in neuroscience, positive psychology, social and emotional learning. The partnership is being launched at YMCA Neighborhood Centers, New Hope and Midway YMCA Early Childhood Learning Centers and Harold Mezile Youth Teen Enrichment Center with more Y sites to come in the future.
Yoga - Yoga means union and is an Eastern spiritual tradition that began in India. Yoga is the practice of quieting and observing of the mind, by moving through physical poses. Classes are available at the George Wellbeing Center and all YMCA fitness sites.
Tai Chi – Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art practiced for self-defense, health benefits and meditation, involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing. This gentle physical exercise features postures that flow from one to the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion.

Discover how an 11-year-old boy uses meditation and mindfulness to help him remain calm on the basketball court and in school – Suvan’s Story

Learn how YMCA Neighborhood Centers teach mindfulness to young program participants and support their families through the MindUP curriculum – YMCA MindUP

10 Mindfulness Tips and Techniques

There are many ways to bring mindfulness into a person’s life and these tips help provide some ideas:

Create a Mindful Corner for home, work or school that can include: Mindful Glitter Jar, Chime, Coloring, Hoberman Sphere, music (rain sticks and drums), heavy blankets (for weight), eye masks, essential oils, etc.
Download a mindfulness app such as Insight Timer, Headspace, Calm
Create a bed-time routine
1. Turn off screens one hour before bed
2. Use a hot water bottle or weighted blanket to calm the nervous system
3. Align day with the circadian rhythms
4. Use an essential oil diffuser to hydrate the air
Take 1-minute brain-breaks throughout the day
Manage energy, not time
Enjoy restorative practices at the George Wellbeing Center such as massage/bodywork, singing bowl meditation, acupuncture, hydromassage and more
Attend a Y Wellness Retreat and experience the splendor of the natural environment of camp through holistic wellbeing programming and individualized exploration.
Eat mindfully at meal time by sitting down, chewing the food slowly and enjoying the sight, smell, texture and taste of the food.
Take a mindful walk in nature and pay attention to the sights, sounds and smells of being in the great outdoors in fresh air.
Participate in a yoga class where you will focus on breathing.

Because the YMCA is a leading nonprofit committed to helping everyone thrive, financial assistance is available to those in need. To learn more about the Y’s programs, please visit ymcamn.org.

YMCA Collaborates with Minnesota Youth Leadership Councils and the Minnesota Department of Human Services to Host Third Annual Foster Child and Youth Day on the Hill on March 9

jeffrey.needham — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 16:49:44 +0000

YMCA Collaborates with Minnesota Youth Leadership Councils and the Minnesota Department of Human Services to Host Third Annual Foster Child and Youth Day on the Hill on March 9 jeffrey.needham Wed, 03/04/2020 - 10:49

St. Paul, MN – The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, is collaborating with the Minnesota Youth Leadership Councils and the Minnesota Department of Human Services to host Foster Child and Youth Day on the Hill to advocate for foster child and youth rights.

On March 9th, this event developed by youth is designed to give them a voice on the pressing issues they experience in the foster care system. A Youth Summit and Training will take place at the Capitol Ridge hotel from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. to prepare the youth for meetings with legislators. At 1:00 p.m. the group of more than 125 youth and adult allies from across the state of Minnesota will march to the State Capitol for a Rally in the Rotunda 1:30 p.m. The rally will consist of greetings by Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Representative Mary Kunesh-Podein, and youth with foster care experiences sharing their stories. Adult allies will be present to assist youth in finding their voice.

“Our young leaders from the foster care systems are the best advocates for policy improvements and reforms that protect the wellbeing of youth in the system,” said Glen Gunderson, president and CEO of the YMCA of the North. “The focus of the day will be to have youth share their experiences to help educate legislators on the lack of foster parent training and the Foster Care Bill of Rights.”

Foster Child and Youth Day on the Hill was planned in partnership with a committee representing youth and adult allies from agencies across the state. Some of the sponsors include YMCA of the North, Nexxus Kindred Family Focus, Foster Advocates, Ampersand Families and the Bridge for Youth.

WHO:
YMCA of the North, Minnesota Youth Leadership Councils and Minnesota Department of Human Services

WHAT:
Foster Child and Youth Day on the Hill

WHERE:
Capitol Ridge Hotel, 161 St. Anthony Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55103 (9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.)
March to State Capitol (1:00-1:30 p.m.)
MN State Capitol Rally in the Rotunda, 75 Rev Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul MN 55155 (1:30-2:30 p.m.)

WHEN:
Monday, March 9, 2020
9:00 a.m.-Noon - Youth Summit and Training
1:30-2:30 p.m. - Rally in the Rotunda with greetings by Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Representative Mary Kunesh-Podein, and youth with foster care experiences sharing their stories.
2:45-4:30 p.m. - Legislative Meetings

About the YMCA of the North