With most of Michigan buried under ice, snow and “wintry mix” it can be hard to imagine that summer will soon be here, and with it the annual headache for working parents about what to do with the children when school is out.
For some parents, the end of school is a true crisis — parent can’t go to work if their children are not cared for, and yet many work in jobs where paying for anything extra like summer child care is a challenge. And helping these parents is an area where the Y and its inclusive philosophy really shines. Thanks to community support from the Annual Campaign (formerly known as the Strong Kids Campaign), parents are able to get scholarship help to send their kids to the Y’s safe, fun high quality day camp.
Of course, the Annual Campaign isn’t just about children going to camp. It helps seniors, singles, and all manner of other folks afford to participate in Y programs.
The annual campaign kicks off in March, and local branches are scheduling their kickoff events right now. The South Oakland Family YMCA in Royal Oak has their annual Power of The Y luncheon scheduled for noon on Thursday, February 13 at the South Oakland Y, 1016 W. 11 Mile Road in Royal Oak. The Farmington Y is holding their Power of the Y event as a breakfast, which will kick off at 7:30 a.m at the Farmington branch, 28100 Farmington Road.
At both events you can hear inspiring stories from people for whom the Y changed their lives and have an opportunity to support the Y yourself. RSVP to South Oakland at this link; RSVP to Farmington here. Both events are free and open to the public. All money raised by each branch stays with that branch and helps their local community.