The strangeness and uncertainty of all of this is what sits with you. We’ve all been through tremendously unsettling and dark times in our lives and in the history of this country (and the older you are, the more you’ve seen), but this is unlike any other bad times we’ve been through before. There’s no visible enemy or obvious path forward. There’s no precedent or near-term marker to point towards.
This crisis is a great equalizer. The spread of the virus and its residual effects knows no bounds and cares not about the societal norms we’ve all constructed. What appears to be highly unusual, however, and eminently distinct, is the resilience, caring, warmth and deep character of Y people. Without hesitation, they have jumped in to serve, to cheer, to check, to be a listening ear, and to be a source of sustenance and care in a time of deep need.
Despite all of the challenges we are facing as an organization, and they are many, Y associates from across the region are doing what Y associates do. They are caring for the children of essential workers; feeding kids in neighborhoods wracked by poverty; checking in on senior Y members; supporting Head Start families with essential resources; helping to keep kids and families engaged and active at home, and much more. They are the heroes of this unanticipated and painful chapter of our Y story. And yet, in the midst of all of this hard work and in the face of furloughs and pay cuts, they worry about our members, our families and the kids we serve. Some even worry about me; sending me positive thoughts and prayers. It’s astonishing and humbling.
As we are holding on by a thread financially, our community is responding. The messages and gestures of support, the maintained memberships and unexpected donations, are all a testament to our principled and compassionate Y associate team and community. Here are just a few:
Thank you to everyone who has invested in and continues to invest in the Y. Someway, somehow, we will get through this. Be safe and healthy.
All the best,
John
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland