GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY DURING THE HOLIDAYS
November and December are the times when people are thankful for their friends and families. It’s also the time when people love to give to others or back to their community. Each year, YMCAs across South Florida do just that. Here’s some of what they do:
Homestead Y Thanksgiving Photo Shoot with Turkey & Fixin’s Giveaway
With the help of volunteers, the Homestead YMCA provided 50 families with Thanksgiving turkeys and fixin’s for Thanksgiving. Each family also received a commemorative holiday photo of their family. The turkeys and produce were donated by Baptist Health South Florida.
You can find more photos on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadymca/
Homestead Y will also have its Annual AOA (Active Older Adults) Holiday Pot Luck on December 17, from 11 a.m. to Noon. More than 70 senior members are expected to attend.
South Dade Y Togetherhood Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway
The South Dade YMCA made sure 200 families received a full Thanksgiving meal for their entire family with enough food to last several days. Everything was donated by members and sponsors. Thank you to the sponsors Baptist Hospital, Courtelis, Florida Blue, Seigfreid & Rivera, Bohlmann Accounting, Barbara & Philip Wong and Stokes McMillian.
In December, the South Dade YMCA will be putting up an Angel Tree to help send children to camp or learn a sport. Giving a gift that teaches life skills, creates memories and builds relationships.
Village of Allapattah YMCA & Preschool Basket Brigade
Allapattah YMCA & Preschool is participating in the Basket Brigade, sponsored by Friends for Locals, which is collecting donations to help families at the Allapattah Preschool and Miami Rescue Mission receive baskets of food for Thanksgiving.
You can still help by going to www.gofundme.com/friends4locals.
Hallandale Beach YMCA Symphony in Lights at Gulf Stream Park
On November 9, the Hallandale Beach YMCA was part of the annual Symphony of Lights in at Gulf Stream Park in Hallandale Beach. The annual event kicks off the holiday season for the community.
Thousands of people came together to listen to holiday tunes from carolers and local musicians, welcome Santa Claus to the Sunshine State, watch snow fall, enjoy beverages, and take in more than 250,000 lights covering trees and nearby buildings on the property.
The YMCA was one of the sponsors, along with the City of Hallandale Beach, Florida Power & Light and WSVN-7.
Fall Festivals & Halloween Events
The last week of October, YMCAs in Broward and Miami-Dade counties held Fall Festivals and Halloween events with positive activities that let families come together, spend time with each other and connect with other families in the community. Each Family Center offered different activities such as pumpkin carving, haunted houses, face painting, costumes, trick-or-treating, arts-and-crafts, healthy snacks, and loads of games and activities. The Y impacted more than 10,900 kids and families at these events.
In addition, the YMCA was invited to participate in the Victoria Park Halloween Event, which is located in the community where the Holiday Park YMCA will be built. More than 500 residents with children visited the YMCA booth.
