We'd like to share with you a letter from a Northwest YMCA member receiving financial assistance:
I am so grateful for the opportunity to belong to the YMCA. Without financial assistance I would not be able to take advantage of all the wonderful programs, classes and opportunities the YMCA has to offer. During this past year, my life changed dramatically. I could no longer work and started receiving disability benefits. In order to make ends meet, I also had to seek assistance through the state and county services. This was a humbling and at times humiliating process for me and I felt very ashamed that I needed help and was embarrassed to even ask for an application for financial aid at the Y. However, from the moment I turned in my application to the process of interviewing, I never felt judged. I was so nervous about coming my first day. I thought everyone would know that I couldn’t really afford to be there, that they would think I wasn’t good enough to be there, that I wouldn’t be able to use all parts of the Y because I wasn’t a “real” member. None of that happened… from the first day I came, I felt accepted and like a member of a community.
Being a member of the Y has been beneficial to me in many ways. The first and most basic is that being able to be physically active has helped me to stay healthy enough to do what I need to do to continue on my healing journey. It improves my mood, helps me manage my anxiety and helps me feel strong and empowered. Another way the Y has benefited me is by providing a sense of belonging and community.
In the midst of everything else that happened over the last year, I lost my mother. She was a single parent and when she passed away, it felt like I lost my family. I have good friends, but no family. Coming to the Y every morning and being greeted, usually by name, means more to me than I can even express. There are days where getting out of bed or leaving my house feels too hard, but the Y is a safe and comforting refuge for me and is a wonderful place to start my day. It feels good to belong somewhere. Again, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be a member of the Northwest YMCA.
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2 comments:
I have been scammed by YMCA. I have been mistreated by the nasty management. They have botched accounts and someone in their accounting department stole $200 worth of credit from my account.
They are not a community organization.
Anonymous,
I am sorry to hear about your experience. Was it with the Northwest YMCA? Have you discussed it with anyone at the Y?
If you have a real problem with a branch, you should never hesitate to bring it up directly with the branch's executive director. I can provide you with the contact information if you so desire.
Please keep in mind that the YMCA is not authorized to receive payment, unless approved. Is it possible that you terminated your membership and needed to wait till the 15th of the next month?
In any event, if you feel that someone "stole" $200 worth of credit from your account, you should not hesitate to pursue it, starting with the branch executive and continuing up the ladder, if necessary, to the Association Services office in downtown Minneapolis.
I hope you read these comments and take positive action, or allow us to investigate the situation with an eye toward providing a satisfactory solution.
Please also give us a way we can contact you to ensure that this is resolved.
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