The South Shore YMCA exists to strengthen the community: improving the lives of those we serve in spirit, mind, and body.
We are proud to bring you these Mission Moments, stories of impact brought to you each week by our team.
Sofia was once afraid of water, clinging to her mother at the thought of swimming. But through the South Shore YMCA Early Learning Center’s weekly water safety program, she found courage. With support from instructors and friends, Sofia transformed from fearful to fearless—building confidence, life skills, and a love for swimming.
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Zachary Lopes, a dedicated South Shore YMCA member and Eagle Scout, developed a fitness trail connecting the Emilson YMCA branch to various facilities through his ambitious Eagle Scout project. His meticulous planning and leadership, along with the support of 40 volunteers, resulted in the creation of the "Strength Adventure Trail," enhancing the community's outdoor fitness experience. Zach's project exemplifies the power of giving back and the impact of community involvement.
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This Valentine’s Day, the South Shore YMCA spread love and comfort to local seniors and neighbors. Children from various YMCA programs created handmade Valentine’s Day cards for residents at senior care facilities, while longtime supporters Kathie and Jack McDonough donated 100 chicken potpies to the YMCA Food Pantry. These heartfelt gestures fostered a spirit of connection and caring within the community, bringing joy and warmth to many.
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Bevin's experience at South Shore YMCA Camp Burgess provided him with a much-needed escape from his caregiving responsibilities at home. Despite the loss of his father, Bevin found joy and support at camp, where he could simply be a kid and make lasting memories. His story highlights the transformative power of camp in creating a nurturing and supportive community for children facing challenges.
Each year, Hope for the Holidays brings joy to hundreds of local children and families by providing gifts, holiday meals, warm clothing, and Y programs like camp and swim lessons. Each year, we receive dozens of “thank you” cards and letters from parents and children, showing us just how much we can strengthen our community when we work together.
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Last week, participants from the Emilson YMCA's Aqua Fitness program, led by instructor Annie Donovan, enjoyed their third annual Holiday Cheer Luncheon. This festive tradition celebrates the strong community they've built both in and out of the water while collecting donations for our South Shore YMCA Food Pantry.
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"My mom taught me that no matter what, there’s always room for others. I think that’s why her work at the Germantown Neighborhood Center meant so much to her. She wanted to give people what she always gave our family: love, acceptance, and a sense of belonging." Kathy Quigley, South Shore YMCA Development Director
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Beth’s life took an unexpected turn at 49 when a routine mammogram detected a hidden tumor and a breast cancer diagnosis. Early detection led to swift, effective treatment, but post-treatment health crises left her seeking strength. And she found it in Zumba classes with Arthur and Emmy at the Hale Family Y, where she regained her sense of strength, support, and normalcy. "Being part of the Y community and partaking in something I love has enabled me to regain self-esteem, confidence, and also be very healthy after treatment."
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Ana, a single mom of three, first connected with the South Shore YMCA at our Germantown Neighborhood Center when she needed support balancing her education and career. Enrolling her children in our Afterschool Program in Quincy provided her with safe, reliable childcare and the opportunity to focus on her goals. With financial assistance from the Y, Ana has been able to advance her education and maintain a stable job while her children are cared for and thriving. “They’ve been a big part of my journey to success,” she shared.
In 2019, Gavin Potter was diagnosed with a brain tumor, leaving him with physical challenges. Now, he's focused on recovery through the South Shore YMCA Partnership Program, which provides adaptive exercise support for those with physical disabilities. “My physical therapist once joked with me, ‘you can’t go wrong getting strong,’" says Gavin, "Although it was just a passing comment, I’ve taken it to heart.”
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As we celebrate the end of the 2024 Olympic games, our South Shore YMCA Strypers Swim Team is celebrating its own champions, like Nick, whose journey from a young swimmer to a top competitor reflects the dedication and passion that drives athletes everywhere. “Swimming with the Strypers has shown me how to work well with others and put others over myself," says Nick, "I’m the leader I am today because of this team.”
As we celebrate Team USA winning gymnastics gold in the women's team final, we want to celebrate our own medal-winning SSYMCA gymnastics team, who recently competed in the 2024 YMCA National Gymnastics Championship and Invitational meet, and who have overcome their share of challenges to do what they love.
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“The Y gives me a place where I feel stronger, more confident, and healthier. It’s a place where I belong,” shared Peter, who joined our Emilson Y branch after losing his wife and feeling isolated during the pandemic. Participating in our Pulmonary Transition Program, Peter regained his health and found a supportive community that helped him continue his fitness journey.
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Swim lessons save lives, build strong swimmers, and foster friendships! Kenzie joined the Y for lessons to gain confidence before a Florida trip, and with her instructor's help, she became skilled enough to pass her swim test at the Emilson Y's new Outdoor Aquatic Center. While there, she encouraged a younger girl, Annabelle, who was nervous about her own swim test.
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We proudly celebrate the graduation of our Early Learning Center Preschoolers as they prepare for elementary school. Our three licensed preschool programs provide a nurturing environment and enriching curriculum, serving over 600 families each year.
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“Camp helps us feel less alone about things we have gone through,” says Apallo, a camper at SSYMCA Camp Burgess & Hayward. Every August, we welcome children from Amazing Grace Cape Cod, an organization providing cost-free programs for kids with incarcerated family members. During their time at camp, these children find support and friendship, enjoying activities like swimming, canoeing, and just being kids.
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After being diagnosed with brain cancer, the Y became even more essential for Whitney and her family. Whitney appreciates the warm and welcoming staff, who have supported her through her recovery. With a strong sense of community, Whitney’s family enjoys various activities together at the Y, from family events to swim lessons and sports, all while knowing their kids are safe and happy.
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Lindsey, a single mother of three, faced numerous challenges after moving to Quincy. The South Shore YMCA Germantown Neighborhood Center & Food Pantry provided her and her young family essential support through programs like Hope for the Holidays. She pursued her dream of becoming a nurse, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is now working towards her master’s degree.
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Over the past nine years, Camp Hayward has become part of Lucie’s identity, a testament to the transformative power of a place that nurtures and celebrates the unique spirit of every individual who passes through its gates. Lucie says, “When I’m missing my Camp family, I stop and think back to memories from the summers past, knowing they will bring a smile to my face.”
On Monday, October 23, 2023, our South Shore Y community gathered to celebrate the dedication of the Emilson Y Studio C group exercise and yoga studio in memory of Stacey Cross Hugues. Throughout her life, Stacey exemplified resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication to our Y community, and played a crucial role in the launch of our South Shore YMCA Staystrong cancer support program.
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Lyudmila, member at the Hale Family Y enjoys yoga for its relaxing and gentle style of movement. After a while, she began to struggle with her balance, and her yoga instructor suggested she try a Tai Chi class with Peggy, longtime South Shore Y instructor. "After the first class I immediately understood how special this practice is,” said Lyudmila, "This class changed everything."
Most of our Emilson Y members know Annie Donovan. Annie has been teaching Aqua Fitness classes at our Y for over five years. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Annie just finished her second battle with this disease. “In life, we face all types of challenges,” says Annie Donovan, Aquatic Fitness Instructor at our Emilson Y. “I can truly say the YMCA always gets me back to my happy place.”
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Barbara has been a member of the Hale Family Y for twenty years. Every time Barbara comes to our Y, she has a smile on her face and is happy to see our staff. “I started taking exercise classes after I retired," says Barbara, "I really enjoy the classes and the people.”
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Twenty years after a near drowning experience, Lusana and her daughter Joyce started swimming at our South Shore YMCA Emilson branch. Both of them are enrolled in swim lessons to become stronger swimmers. “I started taking swim lessons with Emily in April, and it’s been lifechanging,” said Lusana, "I'm not afraid of swimming anymore."
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This summer South Shore YMCA Camp Quirk welcomed hundreds of campers to our Y for a jam-packed summer of camp fun. Campers in our programs enjoy daily swim at the Hale Family YMCA, with a mix of open swim with friends and swim instruction from our staff. Throughout the summer, our staff made great memories with our campers who shared their stories and successes with our team.
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Every year as summer comes to a close, South Shore YMCA Camp Burgess & Hayward ends the season with one last week of Camp for our friends from Friendship Home. Last week marked our thirteenth summer of "Camp Friendship", where members from Friendship Home joined us for a week of summer fun on the Cape.
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“The Y is Shaye’s happy place.” Shaye is a 4-year-old child with autism who has experienced a severe speech delay and sensory disorder. Her and her mother Jeannine have been members at our Emilson Y for two years, where Jeannine finds support, strength, and financial resources as a singer mother to a special needs child.
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Samira started her journey at South Shore YMCA Nature Adventures Camp when she was twelve years old. When her first summer ended, Samira started a new adventure as one of our first Nature Adventures Camp Leader-in-Training (LIT) participants. She has grown to be a strong role model and leader for our campers, and now works on our staff as a counselor.
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Summer camp is a fun, exciting experience for children, but for some neurodivergent children, creating this impactful experience is a challenge. John, a six year olf boy with autism, has stepped out of his shell at Camp Quirk this summer. With the help of our staff, he has successfully navigated seven weeks of camp, making countless memories and even more friends.
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Chris is a 34 years old member and volunteer at the Hale Family YMCA. In 2008, Chris was involved in a car accident that left him with a spinal cord injury. Being faced with the difficulties of his injury at such a young age, Chris came to the Hale Family YMCA, where he finds support to grow stronger physically & mentally every day.
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At the South Shore YMCA Early Learning Center (ELC) in Hanover we have the pleasure of partnering with our neighbors from Benchmark at Hanover, an assisted living and memory care community. Residents from Benchmark visit our ELC to participate in fun activities with our students, sharing an impactful intergenerational bond.
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Kendra started coming to the Emilson Y as a member several years ago, along with a group from Cardinal Cushing Center, an organization that supports individuals with intellectual disabilities. Kendra's passion for helping kids led her to become a volunteer in our Playroom, and after the pandemic, an employee in our Playroom. Kendra became an integral part of the Playroom and the impact she has with kind words or a simple gesture of holding a child’s hand can be felt by all.
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A few times a week, Eddy Topalli pulls up to the front of the Hale Family YMCA in Quincy, hops out of the car, and opens the door for his elderly mother, Natasha. She walks up to the front desk with a warm smile for everyone. Natasha and her family have been regular members for more than 15 years. “We see you guys as a second family, as this as our second home. We want to spend as much time as we can at the Y.” says Eddy.
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Teens are coming to the gym to lift weights more than ever, and the CDC reports over 51% of high school students are strength training 3 or more days a week. We sat down with several of our South Shore Y teen members who are regulars in the weight room to learn what motivates them to exercise here each week.
When you ask Grace what she is most excited for at camp this summer, she says, “I can’t wait to become the counselor that I once looked up to when I attended camp.” Grace has been a part of our South Shore YMCA Camp Gordon Clark family since 2014. After years as a camper in our traditional and Arts Camp programs, she became a Leader in Training, or LIT, assisting camp counselors with a group of younger campers.
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At this time last year, Julian was afraid to get into the bathtub, scared to sit in just an inch of water. Now the five year old looks forward to his weekly swim lessons. Julian is a perfect example of this because he was initially fearful of the water. Patience and purposeful play have enabled him to thrive in swim lessons while simultaneously recognizing how to navigate a body of water safely.
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When we asked alumni camper Gwen Baddeley how she was impacted by her time at Camp, she was excited to share, “Camp pushed me to challenge my own limits and do things I never dreamed I would. My Camp experience is how I landed my first professional job!” Gwen’s experience at South Shore YMCA Camp Burgess & Hayward set her apart from other applicants when applying to be a Museum Educator at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, changing her life even years after she left camp.
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A new student entered our class recently at the South Shore YMCA Nature Center Preschool, and at first he wasn’t sure how to fit in. He came to us with a diagnosis of PANS, or pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome. Since joining our class in December, our new friend has thrived. Through the efforts of his dedicated teachers working with the family to set him up for success, he has made connections with children and staff.
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Emilson YMCA member, Maria Husted, serves as the Transition Coordinator at Pembroke Public Schools. Maria has been in her role as Transition Coordinator for almost 12 years now. She and her team started bringing her students to the Y about seven years ago, creating a skills development and wellness program that also included a healthy eating program as part of their visits.
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Sasha is a child who attends one of our South Shore YMCA after-school programs through the Emilson YMCA. Due to her diagnosis of social pragmatics, Sasha sometimes finds herself in situations where things get out of hand, and things that seem small to Sasha suddenly become big deals to other children. We work with Sasha and her family to help overcome these obstacles and conflicts, making her feel at home in our Y community.
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March is National Traumatic Brain Injury Month and for the past 28 years, our South Shore YMCA member, Mark Garrity, has been living with a traumatic brain injury after he was hit by a distracted driver while crossing the street in 1995. For years, Mark has met twice a week at our Y with personal trainer Pete Chuilli to build strength and stay active. Mark's sister, Patty Garrity, lovingly drives him each week to the Y, where Pete guides Mark through a rigorous functional workout including boxing and a bit of basketball.
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Staff from the South Shore YMCA were busy last week delivering homemade chicken potpies and meeting with many families thanks to our very special donors and longtime Y supporters, Kathie and Jack McDonough. The hundred donated pies were distributed to residents at the NeighborWorks apartments and to residents surrounding the South Shore YMCA Neighborhood Center.
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To show local seniors some love and appreciation on Valentine’s Day, children at the South Shore YMCA Early Learning Centers and Y playrooms in Hanover and Quincy designed over 200 handmade Valentine’s Day Cards that were delivered to residents at local nursing homes and senior care facilities across the South Shore.
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The Holiday Assistance Program at the South Shore YMCA is nothing short of extraordinary. The most rewarding part of this program is the love and gratitude from participating families. As volunteer Kerry Kiley O’Toole said perfectly, “knowing we are warming the hearts of children and hardworking parents gave me joy and reminds us about the true spirit of the Holidays.”
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The South Shore YMCA’s Partnership Program is an adaptive, recreational, non-clinical fitness program designed specifically for people with physical disabilities to more fully enjoy all that the Y has to offer. And, when you think of our Partnership Program here at the Hale Family YMCA in Quincy, you automatically think of Sheryl Rosa, who is retiring this year after coordinating the program here for 22 years. Like so many of us in our Y community, we are beyond grateful to Sheryl for the tremendous impact she has had on all of us, as a mentor, a teacher, a trainer, and a friend.
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This year, 75 South Shore YMCA volunteers and staff joined together to pack and distribute 1700 Thanksgiving meals to our neighbors in need through the South Shore YMCA Germantown Neighborhood Center food pantry and home delivery. It is an incredible feat to accomplish in one day, but our team shares their joy in working together to serve our community and bring Thanksgiving meals to families in our are.
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Two years ago, I met a lovely family who had just moved to Quincy from Florida and joined our Y for inclusive swim lessons. They are a young couple with three beautiful children: their oldest, Leo, is 10 years old and has autism. Jessica told me about her son, Leo, and we discussed how he might benefit from gymnastics, which provides a sensory-rich environment and physical exercise to develop motor skills, coordination, and confidence. As Leo worked one-to-one with a Y gymnastics coach, he began to make some headway. He engaged with the coaches, enjoyed the training, and was showing progress.
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Several days a week, Sue picks up her brother Jerry and drives him to the Hale Family YMCA to work out. Each time they come in, Jerry stops at the desk with an enormous smile to say hello. “Since Jerry first joined the Y, we have met so many wonderful people,” says Sue. “All staff are friendly, helpful, caring, and supportive. It’s a very inclusive environment where everyone can feel comfortable. His workouts have helped him manage his health.”
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Three years ago, a group of women met in an Active Older Adult yoga class at the Emilson Y. Quickly, their friendship grew and, in addition to meeting up for their yoga classes, this group has supported one another through sickness, injuries, and family issues.
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Kenny Nguyen first found the YMCA back in sixth grade when his friend’s mother worked on the Membership Team. “I still remember first going to the Y when I was a kid. It was like a field trip!” said Kenny. Kenny's love for the Y grew, as did his passion for basketball. After several years working at the Y Kenny knew this was where his brother Benny needed to be.
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The past few years have been financially challenging for many families. With the support of our South Shore YMCA Annual campaign, donations made by staff, donors, Y members, and participants have been able to be provided the support needed to help more families afford care, like Rebeca, a new mom of three returning to work.
Rachel Sweatt has not yet stepped foot inside the South Shore YMCA. But, she is already part of our Y’s adaptive “Lob-Stars” tennis family. As our Lob Star tennis team competed in the “Special Pops” tennis tournament last month, our coach witnessed the close bond the team not only has within its immediate boundaries but also with Rachel, an extremely talented 23-year-old tennis player from Arkansas.
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At the South Shore YMCA, we believe our community is stronger when everyone feels welcome and we can all work together for the common good. Last week, we were proud to join Welcoming America, other YMCAs, and organizations nationwide to celebrate Welcoming Week. We celebrate immigrants’ contributions to communities and bring together all residents in a spirit of unity.
Maria began volunteering at the Y in 1988 as her kids became more active in the Y community. In 2012 Maria started working on our Member Service team, leading to her current position as the Assistant Director of Membership. “The Y is my family,” says Maria. “When I go to work every day, I feel like I’m coming here to see my friends. I love the sense of community we have here and how much people care about each other. I love helping people and welcoming them to our Y”
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To Dani, outdoor education at the South Shore YMCA Natural Science Center has made a powerful impact on her family. “I’ve seen my oldest child’s imagination flourish and his appreciation of his environment expand tremendously with the science center’s approach to learning. Seeing my children thrive outside during these informative years will forever be irreplaceable.”
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After experiencing a near-drowning experience as a child, MyQuan became determined to learn how to swim safely. His elementary school curriculum included swim instruction, and MyQuan quickly fell in love with swimming. He began swimming at the Y before joining a competitive swim team. For MyQuan, this passion for swimming blossomed into a career when he became a lifeguard in 2010. He joined the South Shore YMCA team in 2020 as a lifeguard and Aquatics Supervisor. MyQuan then trained to be a swim instructor and it lit a spark. "Working at the Y gives you a great sense of community and helps you progress towards your goals.”
As part of our Y mission to strengthen community, the South Shore YMCA operates several working community farms and gardens across the South Shore and Cape Cod that provide volunteering, camping and educational opportunities in sustainable farming and gardening; help make our community more colorful and beautiful; and provide nutritious produce to our food pantries to help fight food insecurity.
Started in 2005 by Barbara and Charlie Kardok, the Lob-Stars team of twenty athletes can be found practicing on the Emilson Y tennis courts each week under the guidance of Lucy Dickman, Martha DeGregorio and Jim Lawson. Lucy has been with the team since its first year, starting as a volunteer and eventually taking over as coach. “There couldn’t be a better group of kids,” says Lucy. “They are the most kind, giving people, and they make you laugh. I feel lucky to be around them.
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At the Y, we believe in the potential of all children and each day we work to help kids find that potential within themselves. Healthy Kids Day is a fun, free community-wide event to kick off summer and remind us all how important it is for kids to stay active physically and mentally throughout the summer.
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