Exactly 1 year ago on this day, our Y made a very difficult decision to shut the doors, shut off the lights, and share the disturbing news in the abrupt reaction to the pandemic.
Our halls were empty, the lobby wasn’t bustling with early morning coffee drinkers, our cycle studio bikes didn’t turn, no laughter and screams from youth programming, and the pool was smooth like glass. We were empty.
The emptiness was unpredictable, harsh, nerve-racking, joyless, and left us feeling lost and in disbelief.
Through those times that we like to repress to the back of our mind, we need to remember all the good and opportunity that came from a situation that seemingly had no hope.
Our doors are open, lights are on, those early morning coffee drinkers are maybe drinking more coffee than ever, cycle studio bikes are turning faster, years worth of laughter and screams coming from youth programming, and the pool never settles.
And that, we couldn’t have done without our Y family.
The custodial, management staff, board members, and CEOs who worked endless hours trying to open our doors safely. The staff who helped in other areas of the community when working physically in the Y wasn’t an option, and the members who #stayedwithus.
Because of everyone who believed in us, believed in our cause, believed that we were a staple in the community, believed that we were worth investing in when it was difficult to stay invested in yourself, we thank you. We appreciate you. We are so happy to have you.
Have you back in our building, have you joining us virtually, and have you stay a part of our family.
We are slowly working our way to what will be the “new normal”, and as our CEO shared,
“Joyful we are still here to tell the story, and we are still rising”
