News Archives - South Sound YMCA

OLYMPIA, WA — The South Sound YMCA is surveying our community to learn how the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted childcare needs for families. Information provided from parents, future parents, caregivers, and employers will be used to adapt childcare and program offerings in the coming years.

Results will also be shared with community partners and compiled with current data from around our region to reduce duplication of services and ensure kids and families in the South Sound have access to the programs and resources necessary to thrive.

Please fill out the EMERGING CHILDCARE NEEDS SURVEY between June 15 & July 15 and be entered to win a choice of the prices below:

– A 3-month family membership*
– One set of Apple Airpods
– One week of summer day camp with the South Sound Y

*Available for new memberships only.

Learn more about YMCA youth and teen programs, including school-based childcare, online at www.SouthSoundYMCA.org/youth-programs/ or contact us at 360.918.0400.

Save our Children.

Doesn’t’ seem like it’d be necessary to write these words. Doesn’t seem like it’d be necessary to create a “Humanitarian Case for Support” that urges people to take action as hundreds of children are slaughtered. Doesn’t seem like it’d be necessary to increase the “urgency” of the problem. Doesn’t seem like it’d be necessary that three weeks in a row our nation is confronted with unimaginable violence.

And yet, here. WE. are.

When staff come to my office and ask me, “do you think I should quit working and homeschool my kids because I’ll know I’ll see them at the end of the day?” Or when a mom tells me her daughter wakes up with nightmares of school lockdown drills. How ‘bout when a teacher tells me she decided to change shoes as she’s leaving home because the heels she had on weren’t good for running!

sit. with. that. – a professional educator is considering shoe choice based on the ability to run – to live – to see her family – and make it through the day☹

When will it Stop?

21, 57, 63

Those are the numbers of the last three Texas Mass Shootings.

Since Sandy Hook, the nation has suffered more than 3,500 mass shootings, and lawmakers have excused them by claiming they didn’t actually happen, or by insisting we need more guns so there will be “a good guy with a gun” to take out a shooter, or that we need to “harden targets,” or that we need more police in the schools (which has simply led to more student arrests).

Apparently those numbers are not enough to convince 50 elected senators to sign HR 8 – the universal background check bill passed by the house. 90% of Americans are in favor, regardless of political affiliation.

What will it take?

In 2004, a ten-year federal ban on assault weapons expired, and since then. Mass shootings have tripled. Zusha Elinson, who is writing a history of the bestselling AR-15 military style weapon used in many mass shootings, notes that there were about 400,000 AR-15 style rifles in America before the assault weapons ban went into effect in 1994. Today, there are 20 million!

When will it Stop?

SAVE. OUR. CHILDREN!

Juneteenth is a day to celebrate the freedom of all Americans AND recognize that, for many, freedom is still not a reality. It remains something to fight for – and until all of us are free, none of us truly are. If you are not familiar with Juneteenth, we encourage you to educate yourself about this holiday and explore how you can promote healing and be an advocate for freedom in our community. This article from the National Museum of African American History & Culture explains the holiday and why it is celebrated.

Our YMCA is on a continuous journey to ground our policies and practices in equity and consider the diverse cultural perspectives of our staff and greater community. By observing Juneteenth, we are taking one step in this direction.

In observing, all South Sound YMCA facilities will be closed on Sunday, June 19. We welcome you to explore and study the significance of the holiday as we come together and realize our full potential as a nation – justice and equity for all!

Protein – you absolutely need it in your diet. You need to have it in sufficient quantities, and if you are over 40, you need to be consuming it in sufficient quantities at EVERY meal.

In this video, YMCA trainer Steve Messman explains how our bodies use protein as we age, and shows a recipe that you can try to (deliciously) get your protein at breakfast.

In the final installment of his “Active Grandparent Hypothesis” video series, trainer Steve Messman highlights the work of another one of his clients. At 78 years old, Ron is keeping active to hike, remain stable, and have more stamina. With clients of his ranging from 65 to 82, he’s seen first-hand the progress anyone can make with just a little hard work.

“Many of my customers have come to me exclaiming how they can suddenly feel real muscles in their legs,” Steve says in the video. “You can definitely get stronger… It takes work. It takes sweat. It takes dedication.”

By taking Steve’s advice our bodies can remain strong and agile well into our golden years!