YMCA provides childcare for families needing to work during health crisis
Norwich YMCA Executive Director Jamey Mullen along with YMCA Associate Executive Director, Bridget Dexter deliver cots to Norwich Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. (Submitted Photo)
NORWICH – The Norwich YMCA is partnering with those deemed essential work force employees and providing childcare for their families.
“Emergency Child Care is an essential service that we've built on with our relationship with [Chenango Memorial Hospital]. They are contracting with us for their employees. As well as other essential employees like for nursing homes, police, fire, and EMS,” said YMCA Executive Director Jamey Mullen.
Mullen stated this is a coordinated effort with the Chenango County Department of Health and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services
The child care service is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. To 5:30 p.m. and financial assistance is available for participants.
The Y was encourage to extend hours by parents from the community and the Y announced the child care service would stay open after schools closed. One person commented on the Y's Facebook page in regards to the child care service saying, "I don’t really understand the point of school closing if you’re going to hoard them into a smaller space.”
However Mullen said the YMCA had contacted health professionals and was taking extra precautions. A nurse will be on site do a screening and temperature checks of each staff and child before they are allowed to enter the facility.
“I know how quickly people are to judge, we're supposed to be practicing social distancing. They don't understand the work that we’re doing. The Y is a mission driven organization. We have been asked to provide this service as a not-for-profit. We may not even break even on this but it's the right thing to do,” said Mullen.
This isn't the only service the YMCA has provided to the community during this uncertain time. On March 20, Mullen and Associate Executive Director, Bridget Dexter received a call from Norwich Rehabilitation and Nursing Administrator Edith Revoir, who was looking for cots that the rehab center could provide to staff who were working extended shifts.
We have cots at our Y camp, so we made the trip to the camp and loaded up the available cots and brought them over to the rehab
The organization is also doing their part to check in on the community to see how else they can help.
“One of the things we just implemented is a shepherding program. The staff are calling members checking in and seeing how their doing. We're doing this especially for seniors and people worried about being alone and worry about running out of supplies,” said Mullen.
The staff are doing their best to refer concerned residents to resources in the area. For questions about the Y's services or resources, Mullen encourages people to send a direct email to norwichymcafrontdesk@citlink.net.
“The Norwich YMCA is more than a building. Were an organization of 3,000 members. 130 employees trying to provide and do good in our community. We don't need a building to show and do that. We've weathered many other disasters, we'll get through this one,” said Mullen.
“Emergency Child Care is an essential service that we've built on with our relationship with [Chenango Memorial Hospital]. They are contracting with us for their employees. As well as other essential employees like for nursing homes, police, fire, and EMS,” said YMCA Executive Director Jamey Mullen.
Mullen stated this is a coordinated effort with the Chenango County Department of Health and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services
The child care service is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. To 5:30 p.m. and financial assistance is available for participants.
The Y was encourage to extend hours by parents from the community and the Y announced the child care service would stay open after schools closed. One person commented on the Y's Facebook page in regards to the child care service saying, "I don’t really understand the point of school closing if you’re going to hoard them into a smaller space.”
However Mullen said the YMCA had contacted health professionals and was taking extra precautions. A nurse will be on site do a screening and temperature checks of each staff and child before they are allowed to enter the facility.
“I know how quickly people are to judge, we're supposed to be practicing social distancing. They don't understand the work that we’re doing. The Y is a mission driven organization. We have been asked to provide this service as a not-for-profit. We may not even break even on this but it's the right thing to do,” said Mullen.
This isn't the only service the YMCA has provided to the community during this uncertain time. On March 20, Mullen and Associate Executive Director, Bridget Dexter received a call from Norwich Rehabilitation and Nursing Administrator Edith Revoir, who was looking for cots that the rehab center could provide to staff who were working extended shifts.
We have cots at our Y camp, so we made the trip to the camp and loaded up the available cots and brought them over to the rehab
The organization is also doing their part to check in on the community to see how else they can help.
“One of the things we just implemented is a shepherding program. The staff are calling members checking in and seeing how their doing. We're doing this especially for seniors and people worried about being alone and worry about running out of supplies,” said Mullen.
The staff are doing their best to refer concerned residents to resources in the area. For questions about the Y's services or resources, Mullen encourages people to send a direct email to norwichymcafrontdesk@citlink.net.
“The Norwich YMCA is more than a building. Were an organization of 3,000 members. 130 employees trying to provide and do good in our community. We don't need a building to show and do that. We've weathered many other disasters, we'll get through this one,” said Mullen.
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