The YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW) focused on giving back this fall through education and outreach in partnership with local nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations.       

Learning about Hunger and Homelessness 

Last month, YGBW partnered with local organizations during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. The initiative involved students from YGBW’s Before and After School Enrichment (BASE) program, located at 16 schools across Chester County, in collaboration with the Chester County Food Bank, Kennett Area Community Service (KACS), Oxford SILO, Meals on Wheels of Chester County, The Bridge Food Pantry and Clothing Closet and Safe Harbor of Chester County. 

Throughout the week, BASE students listened to presentations and completed meaningful service projects alongside these valued community partners, fostering greater awareness of local challenges while inspiring a spirit of service. Melissa Pacella, Executive Director of Oxford SILO, provided BASE students with a budgeting activity in order to help demonstrate the complexities of hunger and homelessness. 

“It was a great experience and discussion with the kids,” she said. “They started to understand that having a job does not necessarily mean that you have the resources that you need to provide food and shelter for your family, which is one of the reasons why organizations like SILO exist.”

Students helped organize and color meal boxes, food bags, and meal tickets for upcoming distributions at the partner sites. They also collected over 250 boxes of cereal for local food distribution to families. 

“Teaching our core values of caring, honesty, responsibility, and respect is important to us as Y Educators,” stated Claudia Aust, Senior Association Director of Licensed Childcare Programming for YGBW. “Our partnerships with these incredible community organizations provide students with a deeper understanding of the issues facing our neighbors while teaching compassion and empathy.”

Spreading Holiday Cheer Across Chester County 

In addition to Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, YGBW extended its impact throughout the fall. Through its Holiday Cheer Initiative, YGBW staff, donors, and community partners came together to provide essential support to Chester County families. 

Led by Laura Mackiewicz, Director of Volunteer and Civic Engagement for YGBW, the Holiday Cheer Program successfully donated and distributed 3,678 Winter Coats to ensure families stay warm this winter, 900 Holiday Meal Kits to bring comfort and nourishment to local households, 2,237 Gifts of Cheer items for children plus 120 bikes to brighten the holidays.   

Coats were provided by the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation. Bikes were provided by Giving Bikes Back. Meal Kits and Gifts of Cheer items were provided by YGBW members, staff, and community partners, including businesses and group representatives from AccessLex Institute, Devon Preparatory School, Constellation PowerLabs, Gallagher, Girl Scout Troop 41316, Downingtown West Swim and Dive Team, Constellation Network, Criticare, Alliant, Chester County Human Resources Association, DELCO SHRM, NSM Insurance, KMA Studio, Unionville Elementary School, InLand Design, Kline & Specter, and West Chester University of PA, to name just a few.  

“At the YMCA of Greater Brandywine, we are committed to strengthening our community,” said Mackiewicz. “Initiatives like the Holiday Cheer program show how much we can do when we work collaboratively.”

Last year, the program served 561 households.  This year, the program reached 908 households. 

“I am always humbled by the number of neighbors and partners who want to pitch in and provide support during this season,” she said. “Our partners at AccessLex sponsored 75 families across their staff. We had a sponsor make and donate two dozen new, beautiful homemade blankets. Giving Bikes Back provided a new helmet (and helmet fitting and bike adjustments) to every participant during our distribution event. We are just blown away by their generosity and delighted to partner with them in sharing Holiday Cheer with the community.”

Learn more at the YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW), an association of nine YMCAs and Program Centers serving Chester County. The YGBW is a leading non-profit organization committed to building a community that strives to nurture the potential of every child, promote healthy living, and foster social responsibility through life-changing programs for all.