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Merrimack Valley YMCA: Where Every Generation Counts

The Merrimack Valley YMCA helps to build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities through quality programs and services with assistance from volunteers, employees, community partners, and the financial investment provided by individuals, businesses, and public and private grants. Throughout the year, the YMCA reaches more than 33,000 community members at its various sites located in Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, Bear Island on Lake Winnipesaukee, and Captain’s Pond in Salem, New Hampshire.

We are proud to showcase the Merrimack Valley YMCA:

• Where everyone belongs regardless of ethnicity, religious beliefs, or socio-economic standing
• Where 1600 children and individuals visit one of the Y’s Branches on a daily basis to participate in one of our quality programs and/or in a healthy activity
• Where nearly 1,000 children are cared for each day at one of our eight child care centers in a safe and caring environment
• Where children learn the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, build their self-esteem and grow into productive and self-sufficient adults
• Where 1,500 boys and girls are positively impacted and have the experience that lasts a lifetime each summer at one of our three camps (Camp Lawrence, a boys’ resident camp, Camp Nokomis, a girls’ resident camp, or Camp Otter, our co-ed day camp)
• Where hundreds of families join together each week to spend quality time with one another
• Where teens develop leadership skills to help them prepare for their futures
• Where youth can experience music and the arts at the newly established Music Clubhouse and through various dance and art programs held throughout the year
• Where more than 40 homeless or near homeless adults receive counseling, basic educational services, life skills and job training and 73 receive housing at the Y
• Where diverse communities come together to train and compete in swimming, basketball or other team building activities
• Where 700 volunteers help us fulfill our mission and build strong kids, strong families and strong communities

The YMCA’s Reach Out for Youth & Families annual appeal and its special events represent the vehicles through which charitable dollars are raised each year to help make all of this possible. Our annual 'Reach Out For Youth & Families' Campaign ensures that no one is denied the opportunity to share in the YMCA experience due to an inability to pay. In summary, the YMCA’s charitable efforts provide the funding needed to:

 Offer financial assistance for children and families who would not otherwise be able to participate in YMCA programs and services.

 Provide funding to support camping experiences for low income youth within the Merrimack Valley, southern New Hampshire and throughout the northeast region.

 Subsidize outreach programs at all branches that serve specific needs and are not fully supported by fees. Some examples include: Junior and Teen Achievers, Mentoring, Youth and Government, Teen Leaders, Bright Futures, youth sports and family programming.

 Expand and develop new programmatic initiatives designed to meet community needs.

 Provide health, wellness and support for the 73 homeless or near homeless men residing in the Single Room Occupancy housing at the Lawrence Branch.

 Make health and wellness opportunities accessible to everyone.

Due to the leadership and investment of many in our community and beyond, programs aimed at strengthening our community have been made possible. We are pleased to report that we have raised over $250,000 through the annual appeal and an additional $600,000 through special events, grants and other public funding to support our programs and to provide financial assistance to those in need.

Thank you to our generous donors and supportors for thier continued commitment to the YMCA.

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"Thank you so much for your help during this tough time for our family. We appreciate the YMCA's understanding of what we are going through this year. It is overwhelming at time, but we are fortunate to be living in a community that is supportive. Thank you for helping us stretch our funds."

- From a parent whose two children have been in the Methuen YMCA program for the 4 years. One of the children has Leukemia and is currently in Boston Children's Hospital undergoing treatment.