NORWICH – Spouses and families of actively deployed military personnel may be eligible for free membership at the Norwich Family YMCA.

For the last two years, the YMCA Military Outreach Initiative has made a significant impact through the help of the Armed Services YMCA and the U.S. Department of Defense. The Norwich Family YMCA itself has provided assistance to 23 families around the area, totaling more than 100 individuals.

“It’s a great program,” said Jamey Mullen, executive director. “We can provide free memberships for these families until mom or dad comes home.”

The program began almost two years ago as the result of a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008. Since then, 1,407 YMCAs across the country have become involved providing these benefits to over 35,000 military families and almost 70,000 children.