Category: Community Impact

National Nonprofit Day

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox

This is what your YMCA does for you, and why your gift matters

When a neighbor needs child care so they can keep a job, when a teen needs a safe place after school, when a senior needs community to fight loneliness, nonprofits show up. Today we celebrate National Nonprofit Day, which makes it the perfect moment to talk plainly about why nonprofits matter in Berks County and how your gift to the YMCA of Reading & Berks County turns into real help for real people.

YMCA teacher and preschooler coloring a picture together in a cheerful classroom as part of affordable early learning in Berks County.

Why this day is on the calendar?

National Nonprofit Day is observed every year on August 17 to spotlight the impact of organizations that serve the public good. The date nods to an early federal policy that recognized the value of charitable work and helped set the stage for modern nonprofit service. Advocates have championed this observance to raise awareness, thank volunteers and donors, and encourage communities to give, serve, and speak up for the causes they love. It is a reminder to invest in the places and people that make home feel like home.

Why nonprofits matter here at home

Nonprofits are built for community problem-solving. We step into the gaps that for-profit markets do not fill and public funding cannot fully cover. At the Y, that looks like financial assistance in child care so parents can work, youth development so kids grow with confidence, social services that steady families in crisis, and health and wellness that keep people moving and connected.

Every program the Y runs exists because a neighbor needed it. Every one of those programs is sustained by a mix of earned revenue and philanthropy. Our Annual Giving Campaign is the engine that makes sure a child is never turned away for inability to pay, that a family in transition still has support, and that community health is not just a slogan.

What your YMCA does in Berks County

Here is a snapshot of how support becomes impact right here at home:

  • Child care and early learning. Working parents rely on our Early Learning Centers and Before and After School programs to keep kids safe, learning, and loved. Scholarships from Annual Giving close the gap for families who need help.

  • Youth programs and summer camp. From camp activities to robotics tables, kids test courage, creativity, and leadership. One great day at camp can change the whole arc of a summer.

  • Safety around water and the swim team. The pool is a classroom for confidence and life-saving skills. It is also where local athletes shine. Our swim team’s strong performance at recent state and national championships shows what happens when coaching meets grit.

  • Healthy living for all ages. Group fitness, personal training, Les Mills GRIT, and wellness coaching help adults build habits that last. The membership scholarship fund keeps the doors open to neighbors who need the Y most.

  • Social services and stability. When life gets tough, our Social Services team closes the gap with free Parenting Pathways classes for  parents/guardians/role models; housing programs for men, women, and women with children; and practical care and support. Community initiatives like the member-led garden show what happens when people are given space and support to rebuild.

A YMCA swim instructor teaching a child to swim at the Reading YMCA

Real people. Real change.

Stories move us because they remind us who we are together. Here are a few moments from our community you can explore in more detail on our site.

  • Amy’s journey began in crisis. After struggling with addiction and surviving an abusive marriage, Amy was welcomed into the housing program at the YMCA of Reading & Berks County. In retrospect, it was Amy’s first real step toward a better life. Each stage of her life has involved the Y and has been as positive for Amy as her impact is for those around her.  
  • When Ariyah started school, she would cry uncontrollably, cling to her mom, and sometimes even try to run back out of the classroom. Now, after programming at the Y, she’s comfortable and confident, and can hug her mom and say goodbye. Her mom said the transformation has been incredible.
  • With Jeff’s medical condition, reaching toward the floor was too painful. After coming to the Y for movement exercises (and socializing with his new friends), he found that his physical limitations were decreasing. After not being able to touch his toes for years, he’d knocked something down and without thinking about it, reactively bent down and picked it up. It wasn’t until he stood back up that he thought, “What did I just do?!”

These are not one-time wins. They are the day-in and day-out outcomes your support creates.

Where your gift goes?

Transparency matters. Here is the short version of how giving fuels impact:

  • Scholarships lower the cost of child care, programs, and memberships for families who qualify. All children deserve the YMCA resources. Thanks to donations, they have access.

  • Program support keeps classes staffed, supplies stocked, and facilities safe and clean.

  • Community outreach brings programs to neighborhoods that need them most.

  • Emergency assistance helps families bridge short-term crises without losing hard-won stability.

If you have ever wondered whether a gift makes a difference, the answer at the Y is yes, every single time.

Why give today?

National Nonprofit Day is about more than awareness. It is about action. When you give to the YMCA of Reading & Berks County, you are investing in the health, safety, and potential of your neighbors. You are saying that every child deserves a strong start, every teen deserves a mentor, every adult deserves a community, and every senior deserves to be seen. You are saying you believe in the power of connection and making it happen.

Your gift to our Annual Giving Campaign stays local. It is stewarded carefully. It is matched to real needs. It gets to work immediately.

Three simple ways to help right now

  1. Give today. Make a one-time gift or set up a monthly donation that fits your budget. Small monthly gifts add up to big change.

  2. Tell your story. Share why you support the Y on social media and tag #ymcarbc. Your voice encourages the next donor.

  3. Bring a friend. Invite someone to tour a program, try a class, or volunteer at an event. Seeing impact up close makes all the difference.

A note of gratitude

If you have already given, volunteered, or cheered us on, thank you. Your generosity fuels kids who raise their hands in class because they finally feel confident. It fuels parents who can breathe a little easier on the night shift. It fuels seniors who find purpose and friends again. It fuels athletes who discover what they are capable of. It fuels gardens and graduations and the kind of ordinary magic that makes a community strong.

Ready to be part of the story?

Giving is not about fixing everything at once. It is about moving one life forward today. That is what nonprofits do best. That is what the Y does every day in Berks County. Join us.

Give to the Annual Giving Campaign
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Residents Revive the Reading YMCA Greenhouse

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox

From Overgrown to Growing Strong:

Residents Revive the Reading YMCA Greenhouse

Residents from Reading YMCA organize and prep the YMCA greenhouse for planting.
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A few years ago, our greenhouse began as a collaboration between Childcare and Housing. Over time, the space grew quiet, and the beds sat unattended, needing a refresh.

This summer, our Social Services clients and residents changed that story.

Participants from Hacia, Men’s Bridge House, and our SRO programs rolled up their sleeves to clear debris, organize supplies, and restore the greenhouse. Shelves are tidy, tools are in place, and the beds are ready for planting. What started as a simple clean-up became a proud moment of teamwork and ownership.

There are no outside partners on this project. It is homegrown, led by the people who live here and use these spaces every day. Their work brings fresh purpose to a resource that serves health, learning, and community.

Next up is planting. The group is planning easy starter crops and simple care routines so the garden can grow through the season.

About the YMCA of Reading & Berks County

For 167 years, the YMCA of Reading & Berks County has been a cornerstone in the community, putting Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. Driven by its founding mission, the Y is a nonprofit committed to strengthening the community and empowering individuals by ensuring access to resources, relationships, and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, the Y’s goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections among 2,700 Ys in 10,000 communities across the United States. The YMCA of Reading & Berks County operates branches in Adamstown, Mifflin, Reading, Sinking Spring and Tri Valley.

Mission Moments: Amy’s Y

Posted on by Amber Fox

At the Y, Amy found healing, belonging, and the strength to lift others. 

The path to healing isn’t always a straight line. Sometimes it’s a winding, uphill climb filled with second chances, painful detours, and moments that break you, before they begin to build you back up again. For Amy, that path started with the YMCA. 

Amy confidently telling her Y story at the Breakfast of Champions

Her journey began in crisis. After struggling with addiction and surviving an abusive marriage, Amy was welcomed into the housing program at the YMCA of Reading & Berks County. In retrospect, it was Amy’s first real step toward a better life. 

The YMCA was the beginning of my story. Even though I didn’t stay long, it planted a seed. It was the first time I started to believe that a different life was possible.

-Amy

That belief, however small, was enough.

By 2012, Amy began to transform her life as the changes she had made gave her new footing and she found support in community programs, recovery meetings, and sober events. Finally, she “started living instead of just surviving” and her world shifted for the best. She regained full custody of her daughter, and married the love of her life, and created a new beautifully blended family with four children.  

Amy’s journey with the Y took on a new, incredible life, this time as a parent. All four kids attended before-and-after school “Y-Care” at Brecknock Elementary and summer camp at the Mifflin YMCA. They loved the fun experiences and making/playing with friends. Amy and her husband loved even more than that. They found support, comfort and strength in the inclusion and sense of true belonging that their son, who is on the autism spectrum, found at the Y.

They welcomed him with open arms. So many places wouldn’t ‘deal’ with him. But the Y staff never made him feel like a burden. They made him feel like he belonged.

-Amy

Fast forward to 2018. Life threw another devastating blow when Amy’s mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and passed away within months. Grief and depression hit like a tidal wave. That’s when someone encouraged her to go to the gym. “I thought it was a joke,” she laughs softly, “but I went.”

And something clicked. 

Group fitness didn’t just become a routine; it became her anchor. A space to breathe. A place to cry, sweat, connect, and feel something other than grief.  “Group fitness became my saving grace,” Amy says. 

Amy teaching a group fitness class at Sinking Spring YMCA

Soon, she wasn’t just taking classes. She was leading them. Giving back the same encouragement that once saved her. 

Today, Amy teaches group fitness at the YMCA, pouring strength into every movement, every message. She’s become the light for others still navigating dark places, the way the Y once was for her. For the young mother battling addiction. For her stepson, who just wanted to feel accepted. For the grieving daughter trying to survive one more day. “The Y helped me grow. It helped my family grow,” Amy says. “And now I get to be part of the change that helped me.” 

Because of the Y, Amy’s life is proof that hope can be rebuilt and shared. 

Be the reason someone like Amy finds their first step toward healing. Donate today and support the programs that give our community strength, one story at a time. 

Why Parents Choose YMCA Summer Camp (And Why It Might Be Perfect for You, Too)

Posted on by Amber Fox

You’re Not the Only One Wondering If Camp Is Worth It 

If you’re staring at a dozen browser tabs titled “Best summer camp near me” or “Affordable day camps for kids,” know this: you’re not alone. Every summer, parents across Berks County hit the same wall of anxiety, questions, and decision fatigue. You want your child to be safe, engaged, and growing, but without taking out a second mortgage. 

Campers having a blast playing in foam at the YMCA summer day camp

Does This Sound Like Your Summer Reality?

Between work schedules, rising costs, and endless kid energy, summer can feel less like a break and more like a puzzle you can’t quite solve. You may be wondering: Will they be safe? Will they make friends? Will it be worth the cost? And most of all, will they love it?

The YMCA gets it. That’s why we’ve designed our Summer Day Camp & Playground programs to support real families like yours with programming that’s safe, affordable, and full of unforgettable fun.  

Why Families Are Choosing the Y This Summer 

Here are some of the top reasons YMCA Summer Camp might be exactly what you need:

1. Safety First: 

Certified staff, low camper-to-staff ratios, and secure facilities give parents peace of mind from the moment of drop-off. 

2. All-Inclusive Pricing:

One weekly camp rate covers transportation and entry to weekly field trips and pool trips, camp activities and supplies, and a full day of care. Upon enrollment, there is a one-time registration fee for the summer and a weekly cost for camp that covers everything else. No hidden surprises! 

3. Theme Weeks:

From music and gameshow fest to science explorers to nature’s wonders, every week brings something new and exciting for kids to look forward to. We want to keep them busy and curious all summer long. 

4. Wrap-Around Care:

Our early morning and late afternoon options provide the flexibility working parents need to make camp work for their schedules. 

5. Accessible for All:

Through financial assistance and scholarships, we make camp possible for more families in our community.

6. Built-in Social Growth: 

Camp helps kids build confidence, learn cooperation, practice social skills, and make lifelong friendships through shared games and group play. 

7. Screen-Free Fun:

 Y camp means a variety of activities like enjoying arts and crafts, playing games and sports, and swimming and exploring new interests. This means no screens, just hands-on experiences and real-world connections. They stay sharp all summer long through STEAM activities including the Y camp challenge of the summer: the Can Structure Challenge! Each branch submits one can structure, built collectively by all the campers at that location.  

8. Trusted Legacy:

The YMCA has been serving children and families in Berks County since 1858. That legacy of care, support, and community is part of every camp day. 

Campers getting ready to play a game at summer camp

9. Parent Communication: 

 We make it easy to stay informed. You’ll get updates and photos and have a direct line of communication with our camp team with the Class Dojo app. 

10. It Feels Like Home: 

The biggest thing parents say? “My kid felt safe and seen.” Our staff teaches through example the critical core values, including respect, honesty, responsibility, and caring, that we encourage them to practice at home too.  

All 10 reasons above connect back to one goal: making summer easier, safer, and more joyful for families. It’s not just camp. It’s a community. 

Ready to Learn More? 

Visit ymcarbc.org/summer-day-camp to explore programs, scholarships, and registration options, or call us. We’re here to help. 

FAQs from Families Like Yours

What age is the YMCA summer camp for?

Camp serves children entering grades 1 through 6 (or ages 6-12) in full-day summer camps at each of our branches and half-day playground programs throughout Berks County at partnering parks. Generally speaking, if kids enjoy our summer camps, they’ll do well in our Before & After-school and School’s Out programs we offer throughout the school year.

What if I can't afford the full cost?

The YMCA of Reading & Berks County has options for financial assistance, scholarships, and flexible payments so we can be affordable and accessible to give all kids fun and opportunity. Don’t rule us out before talking to us.

From 1857 to Today: Honoring 167 Years of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox

Celebrating 167 Years of Impact: The Reading YMCA Legacy Lives On 

Happy Birthday to us! On June 22, 1857, the Reading YMCA opened its doors with one mission: to strengthen our community through a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. Today, 167 years later, we’re still at it, and stronger than ever. 

A man and child walking into the Reading YMCA in the early 1900s.

Reading YMCA early 1900s

From our humble beginnings in a borrowed meeting room to now operating five vibrant branches and two early learning centers in Berks County, the YMCA of Reading and Berks County has become a cornerstone of community support, wellness, youth development, and social responsibility. 

 To thank you, our members, staff, and supporters, we’re throwing a weeklong celebration for Membership Appreciation Week, June 17–22!  You’ve helped shape this legacy, and now we want to celebrate YOU. 

A Rich History of Service and Strength 

Since 1857, the Reading YMCA has weathered wars, economic shifts, and social changes, but our commitment has never wavered. From early literacy programs and boarding rooms for young men in the 1800s, to launching job readiness programs and summer camps in the 1900s, to providing critical childcare, housing, and fitness services today, we’ve adapted to meet the community’s needs every step of the way. Each generation brings new energy and passion, but our mission stays the same: building a stronger, healthier community, together. 

“The Y has always been more than a gym; it’s a home. A safe place. A community of people who lift each other up.”

- YMCA Member, Reading Branch
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The Reading YMCA created a USO 1943

Then, Now, Always: What the YMCA Offers Today 

The Y you know today is packed with programs and opportunities for all ages and abilities. Whether you’re chasing a new fitness goal, searching for affordable childcare, looking for youth sports, or wanting to volunteer, there’s a place for you here. 

Man at the Reading YMCA Welcome Center Desk 1879-1895

Reading YMCA Welcome Center Desk 1879-1895

Here’s just a snapshot of what your YMCA offers: 

  • State-of-the-art fitness centers 
  • Preschool & early learning programs 
  • Before & after school care  
  • Swim lessons & water safety 
  • Summer day camps & playground programs 
  • Housing programs 
  • Tennis and pickleball courts 
  • Supportive community events and wellness workshops 

We are proud to serve over 40,000 people every year in Berks County. Each one of you is part of our legacy. 

Growing Into the Future: Our Next Chapter Starts With You 

Our story isn’t just about the past, it’s about where we’re headed next. As we prepare for the future, we’re committed to: 

  • Expanding affordable access to all families 
  • Strengthening youth mentorship programs 
  • Enhancing our facilities and equipment 
  • Growing partnerships with local businesses and donors 
  • Supporting community wellness and mental health 

Every time you show up, whether to work out, volunteer, donate, or enroll your child in a program, you are shaping our story. You are helping us carry 167 years of impact forward. 

Be a Part of Our Legacy 

If you haven’t stopped by in a while, now’s the perfect time. Visit us during Membership Appreciation Week, take a tour, and discover how the YMCA continues to be a pillar of wellness, inclusion, and opportunity in Berks County and beyond. 

Whether you’re a longtime member or brand new, you belong at the Y, because the Y belongs to this community. 

Thank you,  

To our founding members, our current families, and every volunteer, donor, and staff member who’s walked through our doors, thank you. This birthday isn’t just about looking back, it’s about celebrating what we’ve built together, and what we’ll keep building for generations to come. 

The Olympic-size indoor Pool opened in 1971. At the time, it was the largest Y pool in the US.

Happy 167th, Reading YMCA. Here’s to the next hundred and beyond! 

Learn more and find your nearest branch
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