Jenise loves the YMCA at VT

Y really came into my life when I started volunteering with their Y-Toss programs, a student-run initiative that diverts more than 100 tons of gently used household items from the waste stream.

I always love seeing the faces of parents and students light up when they arrive for move-in and come to Y-Toss and see this sustainability in action as we give life to items that would have potentially gone to a landfill during move out. 

Another touchpoint was when my children and I had opportunities to help with the Meals on Main program, born out of Covid when schools were closed and not able to serve families. See photo of Adrian above. :)

We now have a fully scaled mobile food truck with Daniel Ehrich as the supervisor of the food programs. He and his students help to prepare hot meals each week for our community.

It’s been great to see the mobile kitchen making inroads and going into the communities that have need. But we know there is a much greater need. Our region’s food insecurity rate is 27% higher than the state average.

One of the next steps in expanding our food programs is creating a commercial kitchen to further scale our capabilities—a true culinary dream come true—to help our neighbors in need. 

I continue to be amazed at the adaptability of the YMCA. 

 YOUR SUPPORT COULD BE MONUMENTAL!