By Staff
To the editor:
I would like to share with you what the Atmore YMCA means to my family. When my daughter started kindergarten in 1988 we were faced with a problem. Since my husband and I both work and our work day ended after 4 p.m. each day we needed somewhere for our daughter to stay after school until we got off work. The answer came easily when we enrolled her in the YMCA After School program. At that time, the YMCA program was being held at Rachel Patterson, the school where our daughter was enrolled. The Y offered a safe, secure, supervised place for our daughter.
Since that time the Atmore YMCA has gone through many changes and moves. It now rents space at the Atmore Lions Club Community Center. During the years, my husband and I have had a great peace of mind knowing that our daughter was safe and secure at the YMCA and not at home as a "latch key" child.
Our daughter has literally grown up as a part of the Atmore YMCA and she is now employed as a staff member in the After School Program that she grew up attending
I am very grateful for the people who had the insight and desire to start the YMCA in Atmore. Now, as a way of giving back to the YMCA, I am sitting as a member of the Board of Directors. Our YMCA mission is to enrich the quality of spiritual, mental, physical and social well being of our families, our community and ourselves. Our YMCA programs are available to everyone regardless of race, religion, national origin or ability to pay. With this mission in mind, the YMCA board of directors has voted to begin an annual support campaign. The theme of our campaign is "Put the Y' in our YMCA n The Y" is you and your family."
During the next few weeks we will be asking the Atmore community for financial support. In order to continue and enhance the programs at the Y, and one day have a facility of our own, we need the support of the community. Our campaigners will be calling on the Atmore community to give to the best of their ability. Your generous gift or pledge will ensure the continuation of our mission and the Atmore Area YMCA.
As a member of the board of directors and the annual campaign support coordinator, please join me with your financial support. Terri Godwin serves as the executive director for the Atmore YMCA and would be glad to share with anyone the needs of the Y. I would like to urge you to visit the YMCA. We are located in the Lion's Club Community Center on Pensacola Avenue. Visit and see that we are not just a fitness center. We have a variety of programs available for all ages. The Fitness Center that offers a wide variety of exercise machines to free weights for the body builders. Aerobics are offered during the day and at night. Our After School program for ages 5 to 12 begins at 3 p.m. and closes at 5:30 p.m. Bus transportation is available from several of our local schools. During the summer we have Day Camp available from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This summer we have over 100 children involved in Day Camp. A few of the other programs are youth and adult basketball soccer and swim team. We provide nursery services for our members on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for parents wishing to participate in the aerobics classes or work out in the fitness center.
I have witnessed the support our community has given to many good causes this year. I am sure that our community will again accept the challenge and help keep our YMCA as a vital part of Atmore. The funds raised during this support campaign will be used to provide scholarship money for those needing financial assistance and will allow us to continue our current programs.
You will be hearing more about our annual support campaign in the coming weeks.
Thanks,
Deborah Hammons
YMCA Board Member
Annual Support Campaign Coordinator