73933 Annual Report Docv7 - YMCA of Edmonton, AB
73933 Annual Report Docv7 - YMCA of Edmonton, AB
73933 Annual Report Docv7 - YMCA of Edmonton, AB
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one day at a time...<br />
7 AM<br />
CHILD CARE GETS STARTED<br />
“The <strong>YMCA</strong> child care has been<br />
part <strong>of</strong> our family experience for the<br />
last four years. Our oldest daughter,<br />
Bryna, came into the <strong>YMCA</strong> when<br />
she was 3 years old. She has multiple<br />
life threatening food allergies, asthma<br />
and severe eczema.<br />
The <strong>YMCA</strong> child care was<br />
phenomenal about maintaining her<br />
safety. The staff were very aware <strong>of</strong><br />
her health issues and very cautious<br />
yet let her experience everything in<br />
a safe manner.<br />
What has comforted us as we let go<br />
<strong>of</strong> that hug in the morning is that<br />
Bryna is going into open arms and<br />
open hearts <strong>of</strong> staff that care for her<br />
and love her as family would.<br />
We feel part <strong>of</strong> the <strong>YMCA</strong> family<br />
and they are in our hearts forever<br />
for caring for our beautiful and<br />
wonderful little Bryna. We will<br />
continue to be the biggest fans <strong>of</strong><br />
our <strong>YMCA</strong>!”<br />
Arlene & Jeff Gibbons<br />
Castle Downs <strong>YMCA</strong><br />
• In 2006 the <strong>YMCA</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Edmonton</strong> Child Care served<br />
over 1,460 children everyday.<br />
• The <strong>YMCA</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Edmonton</strong> is<br />
the largest provider <strong>of</strong> not-forpr<strong>of</strong>it<br />
Child Care in our city.<br />
10 AM<br />
COLLECTIVE KITCHEN<br />
“The Collective Kitchen is a program<br />
<strong>of</strong>fered through the <strong>YMCA</strong> Enterprise<br />
Centre in which we come together to<br />
cook and prepare meals.<br />
I have been a participant in the<br />
Collective Kitchen for over two years<br />
and it is the best investment I ever<br />
made for myself and my children. A<br />
$3.00 investment; that is what I pay.<br />
The rest <strong>of</strong> the program is supported<br />
by various community partners.<br />
We learn how to prepare healthy<br />
meals, shopping on a budget, and<br />
making healthy life choices.<br />
Other bonuses are the socializing and<br />
coming together to experience each<br />
others customs and crafts. In the<br />
Collective Kitchen we learn to accept<br />
each others differences and embrace<br />
those differences through the<br />
expression <strong>of</strong> our food.”<br />
Sharon Benusic<br />
<strong>YMCA</strong> Collective Kitchen<br />
Participant<br />
• In 2006, 1,200 meals were<br />
prepared in the Collective<br />
Kitchen program.<br />
4 PM<br />
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS<br />
“When the Kids Club after school<br />
program started in February our kids<br />
were all excited, except for one girl,<br />
Joanne (name changed), who refused<br />
to take part in the activities.<br />
It became clear that the reason<br />
Joanne did not want to be at Kids<br />
Club was because she had anxiety<br />
and difficulties with reading aloud.<br />
I explained to Joanne that Kids Club<br />
was a safe place for kids to work<br />
together toward becoming better readers.<br />
As Joanne continued to have difficulty,<br />
I noticed that she wasn’t stopping<br />
between sentences to breathe. After<br />
pointing this out, her reading<br />
improved and the change was so<br />
impressive that we all erupted in<br />
applause after she finished reading.<br />
Now Joanne is excited to come to<br />
Kids Club and every morning she<br />
asks if it is a “<strong>YMCA</strong> day today?”<br />
Natalie Smotkowicz<br />
Program Instructor at the <strong>YMCA</strong><br />
Enterprise Centre<br />
• <strong>YMCA</strong> Kids Club has been<br />
in operation for six years.<br />
• In 2006, 113 elementary<br />
school children from low<br />
income households have<br />
developed better reading and<br />
social skills as a result <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>YMCA</strong> Kids Club.<br />
one life at a time!<br />
We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities.