Sunday, March 15, 2020
Dear Valued Members and Families of the Merrimack Valley YMCA,
As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, our commitment to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility must continue. We are all continuing to learn and adapt to the evolving situation. Please know that the Merrimack Valley YMCA takes very seriously its responsibility to your health and safety.
Our YMCA’s leadership team is meeting daily to review current and future plans and we will continue to update you as changes are made.
Recent events and guidance from public officials, Dept. of Public Health, Mass. Alliance of Ys and YUSA have required us to make some changes to our daily operations. We understand that this can create a burden, but we feel it is the best decision to help with our overall community effort to mitigate the impact of this virus.
The following decisions have been made to address the current climate of the COVID-19 virus and to support the community and our staff during this rapidly evolving situation:
Our facilities and programs and operations beginning tomorrow, Monday, March 16, will be closed through Sunday March 29th.
However, our Childcare Centers will be closed from Monday March 16th through Wednesday March 18th for further deep cleaning and we will take those three days to explore the possibilities of using our facilities to provide child care for essential employees and first responders who must work to protect us. We know that these families need safe and reliable places for their children. Furthermore, alongside our local officials, community leaders and partners, we will explore strategies that enable us to address food insecurity and additional community needs.
We ask that you join us in the effort. We ask that you continue to pay your membership fee so that we can use this revenue to “do good” during the time of uncertainty. Naturally, we will put your membership on hold, but if you want to join us in service to others, we invite you to join us. We know your membership is meaningful to us and that “meaning” lies in the relationships you have built at the Y. We are asking you to support us in service of “our” community. The Coronavirus has created enormous uncertainty; however, how we manage it is in our control. Join us in creating a history that demonstrates how we came together and served those who needed us the most. Let us tell the story of the “meaningful” ways in which we responded.
Currently, there are no suspected or confirmed cases of Coronavirus in our YMCAs.
We feel this decision is the most responsible course of action based on the need to consider the health and well-being of our children, families and the community-at-large. We want you to know that this is not a decision we made lightly and hope we have your understanding.
As you can appreciate, these are unprecedented times we are experiencing, with new developments occurring every hour. We are trying to navigate our way through this in the best way we can. As news surrounding attempts to contain the Coronavirus (or COVID-19) develop, we will continue to update you on all important decisions.
Anyone seeking additional information about the Merrimack Valley YMCA contact us at: ymcainfo@mvymca.org
Needless to say, we will reopen at first chance, and hope that you will find it in your heart to continue to support us.
All My Best,
Francis J. Kenneally III
President and CEO
Merrimack Valley YMCA