NORWICH – The YMCA is offering a new program aimed at helping the spouses and children of deployed military service members.

The YMCA has teamed up with the Armed Services YMCA and the Department of Defense to offer an outreach initiative that would provide free Y memberships to family members of deployed military personnel.

The goal of the program is to aid families of deployed military personnel who are located far from a military installation. With $31 million in government funding, the program helps families to access family programming and support services with a Y membership.

The Norwich YMCA only found out about the outreach initiative on Sept. 30, but by Oct. 1, they were offering the program to military families. “Right now, we’re trying to reach out to families to let them know the service is available,” said YMCA Membership and Billing Coordinator Tara Pierce.

Spouses and children of deployed service members can register at their local YMCA by providing deployment orders and a military ID card. The free memberships are issued for six month increments, up to 12 or 18 months, depending on the length of the deployment. Military service people whose families are participating in the program are eligible to receive free Y memberships for three months before and after the deployment.