COVID-19 Messages of Support and Thanks

Messages of Support and Thanks from Our Y Community

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, our Y has transformed from a community center to a COVID-19 emergency relief organization, that has helped thousands of our neighbors to secure food, shelter and childcare, thanks to the generosity of our members, donors, staff and our South Shore community.

We are honored to continue serving the community in these difficult times and humbled by the many kind words support and gratitude we have received. As part of our South Shore Y family, these heartfelt words belong to you. Thank you for your support, your generosity, and for making a difference to so many.

Support the Y

DIANE SOUZA, EMERGENCY CHILDCARE MOM

“We are so greatly appreciative of all you and the staff have done for us as essential personnel, my husband is a paramedic for Boston EMS and I am a nurse for Road to Responsibility in Marshfield.. We have three kids: Lauren 10 and Cameron and Delaney 8 year-old twins. This care that you and your wonderful staff have provided to us during the pandemic has been nothing short of amazing and comforting. Randy and I are so grateful for the support and help you have given to us. Putting our kids in a daycare was very hard. In these trying times all we want to do is keep them in a bubble. But, unfortunately (and fortunately) we have jobs that don’t allow us to work from home…and we consider this home for them while we work and take care of “business” that professions we signed up for.  Again, I want to thank every single person that had helped alleviate the stress and anxiety about child care during this pandemic. We truly appreciate all that has been done — mostly caring for our kiddos. Please tell everyone that the South Shore YMCA Early Learning Center in Hanover that the Souza’s are huge supporters and fans of the YMCA. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our heart. Special thanks and hugs to Kristine, Nancy, Jen, Diane, Kelly, Jessica, Katie, Tyler and you Mary.”

Diane Souza, Emergency Childcare Mom & Registered Nurse

My husband and I are unbelievably grateful for the care you have provided for our children Hazel and Harrington. They have thoroughly enjoyed their time at the South Shore YMCA and will continue to do so until they can go back to ‘regular school’. Thank you for all that you do.

With great respect and kind regards,

Kate and Darrell Nobles
Essential Employees & Emergency Childcare Parents

“After seeing the beds at Quincy YMCA for the homeless i have decided to donate my membership fees. I am proud to be a member of the South Shore YMCA.” – Brian S, Quincy Y Member

Support the Y

“Glad there is a way to contribute. It will be nice when I will be able to bring my husband in his wheel chair to the Partners Program again.”

Support the Y

From Our Dedicated Frontline Staff

“I’m proud to be a part of a dedicated hard working team and a community of caring. It shows how strong our community can be. Even when our doors closed we were still able to help the community. It reminds us why we do what we do.” – Ken Berardi, Aquatics Director, Quincy YMCA

“During this time of uncertainty, it makes me feel so grateful to help make sure the families in our communities do not have to worry about food. The biggest impact is hearing their words of gratitude after coming through the line at Germantown Neighborhood Center. I’m fortunate to be a part of this mission with such a devoted team.” – Emily Hubert, Health & Wellness Director, Emilson YMCA

“Working at the food pantry during the pandemic has been one of the most impactful things I’ve ever done, every Wednesday and Friday morning the lines for food are long as we serve the community. Without the support from the South Shore YMCA community we would not be able to provide food to families in need, at times like this it is clear to see the YMCA mission in action. It’s a privilege to be part of the team knowing that we are helping the people who need us the most at this time.” – Phil Gay, Day Camp & Community Outreach Director, Quincy YMCA

“For decades I have been on the front line serving those in need with food, housing assistance and mental health referrals. Since this horrible crisis began I have been on the front line again and I have never witnessed anything like what this pandemic has done to affect people that never needed assistance before. This has brought lines of people from all over Quincy that wait hours to receive bags of food, standing 6 feet apart from one another, silently waiting to be next. They are young and old and they are the most grateful people I have ever meet. It truly humbles me that I have had the opportunity again to serve. I’m so proud to work for the South Shore YMCA that puts people first.” – Kathy Quigley, Development Director, South Shore YMCA

“My time spent at Germantown Neighborhood Food Pantry has opened my eyes to the vast need for assistance within our community. Working with such dedicated staff to provide help has been an honor. To see how we’ve supported our community during this extremely difficult time has touched my heart and proven to me how an organization is more than just a building; we are a team and we are here to provide help to those who need it most. Such dedication to our mission is why I love working for the South Shore Y.” – Erin Ross, Assistant Membership Director, Emilson YMCA

From Our Members, Partners and Donors – THANK YOU ALL

Support the Y

• It really is a wonderful place and the YMCA team is constantly making a difference in this community. Let us know when I can bring my boys to unload and stuff food bags. – Mia Rochte, Volunteer
• The number one thing I’m dying to do when all this is over is go for a swim at the Y. We are such fans and look forward to being in the Y Community again. – Kathleen, Y Member
• Please keep my May fee as a donation. I look forward to your reopening soon as I miss being there and seeing all your fabulous staff. Thanks again! – Pat, Y Member
• Thank you for all you’re doing to bring our children happiness! We need more leaders like you! Regards, Monica Whitcomb
• Great job, Paul! – Ellen Delaney
• Proud to know you and all the others at the Y for helping people so much, and in all the genuinely important and effective meaningful ways you do. Especially now, right from the start– THIS in life is what matters. Appreciation, thanks and best wishes to you always. – Gerald B.
• “Keep up the good safety precautions! Just a short anecdote about Germantown in response to my surprise at seeing the Germantown Neighborhood Center handing out food to lines of needy neighbors: We never made the connection until this year when I received a call from a YMCA staffer at the Neighborhood Center to thank me for donating my membership payment during the corona virus closure. Keep up that wonderful work. – Mike S.
• Thank you all for sharing and for all the Y continues to accomplish. Well done!
• I’m proud to be a part of so many helping hands! – Kathie McDonough, Volunteer, Donor and SSYMCA Executive Board Member
• Thanks for the update letter and the details per the Governor’s very careful and necessary guidelines. More important than ever is the Y’s commitment to “healthy living and social responsibility.” We salute the Y’s active and extensive COVID response and all who are making it possible.
• Thank you for helping the community. If there is anything I can do to help, call me. I am an RN on furlough.
• God bless
• I read the mailed newsletter and I am so appreciative of all the incredible work you’re doing to support the community during this crisis. Seeing the gym set up as an emergency shelter really struck me and I want to say thank you for the essential work you’re doing.
• God bless
• Thanks for doing this guys!
• I would like to donate my April and May 2020 membership dues. Hope this helps.
• Take care and stay well. Thanks.
• Hi, I did not realize my deduction stopped. Please, if possible, take the April deduction, too. Thank you.
• Great way to be able to help.
• Please donate 1-month of our family membership. As a former Y employee at Hanover and Camp Burgess-Hayward, thinking of all the staff and amazing service you are currently providing. Had a great conversation with Joe from Adventure Trips last week. Stay strong Y.
• Glad there is a way to contribute. It will be nice when I will be able to bring my husband in his wheel chair to the Partners Program again.
• I am in the disabled program. I am on a reduced membership fee. Please donate my fees. Thanks so much for everything you do for the community!! 😀
• I’d like to donate my membership for the month of May. You’re all doing great work! Thank you!
• Please use our monthly membership effective April to support the Y’s efforts to support the community during COVID-19
• I had signed up previously but wanted to make sure that I was still contributing a donation
• Please donate our family membership fees to help the community during this pandemic. Thank you.
• Whatever is needed during this covid-19 epidemic for the Y’s works.
• Thank you!
• Please convert my membership to a donation since the beginning of this emergency. Any questions please feel free to call either number. Thanks for serving my community!
• Whatever the executive board considers its priorities. No restriction on its use.
• If you need help with any volunteer opportunities, please reach out to me as I’d love to help. Bonnie
• I presently have a family membership. @ the present time I would like to convert the membership to self/single and donate that amount of my membership to support the YMCA with emergency services. Thank you.
• Thank you for all that you are doing to serve our community and the thoughtfulness to extend the option to contribute our membership for the cause.
• Beginning May 1 can you donate my membership to Germantown?
• My husband and I are donating our membership. Thank you.
• Thanks for all the work you do in the community, this too, shall pass.
• Thank you for housing the homeless and for providing for people through the food pantry!
• Thanks for converting membership at this time.
• I was away and my membership was frozen. So as of 5/1/2020 when my membership is reinstated, I would like to donate my monthly membership to the y until they reopen. Stay healthy.
• Hope to see you all soon. Please call if you need any clarification. Thank you
• Thank you for the work you are doing for the community.
• Thank you
• Thank you for supporting our seniors
• Use for operations, or as you see fit.
• Although I am a disabled senior, myself I wish to donate to support all the good works that the YMCA is doing. Thank you.
• Stay Safe.
• Thank you for your work! I’d like to donate last month’s fee also…I thought my membership was still automatically being deducted, and I have just realized that it is not anymore. Thank you!
• Thank you for helping our community senior citizens during this time.
• Long live the Y
• I would like to donate my membership fee for the month of April.
• Thank You!
• Thank you for doing so much for the homeless, the seniors, the essential personnel who need daycare, and the hungry. I hope you are also helping out YMCA staff and your independent contractors, so they don’t lose their income completely.
• Hello, Txs for all the Y does to help others.
• My employer (Energy Services Group) covers a portion of my membership but I’m not sure what action they are taking while you are closed. Please charge the full amount to me while you are closed.
• Hello, I want to help in any way I can! If there is anything more I can do please call me. Thank you and God bless!
• Thank you. Keep up your great work.
• Very nice idea!
• Wherever the most need is
• I would like to donate my membership fees for the months of May and June for now.
• Thank you for making this possible.
• I would also like to donate any outstanding balances for prepaid clinics.
• We got a voice mail message today from Trevor Williams. So glad he called. We didn’t see the email about donating membership and wouldn’t have known otherwise. Not sure how far this goes back, but donate our membership from whenever you started this. Thanks for doing this.
  Keep up the good work. Hopefully you can put another golf tournament together when all this end. We were a sponsor (CHA Consulting) and enjoyed it very much
• Thank you for initiating this!
• Great idea-thanks for helping out!
• This is a household membership and we want the entire monthly fee to be a donation.
• Keep up the good work!
• To help those in need in Hanover area
• Thank you for ALL you are doing during this crisis. God bless.
• Please use my donation towards supporting the people who are unemployed and in need of food because of the coronavirus.
• I have free time if there is anything that I can do such as making phone calls on my cell phone to assist your clients. I need to work from home. – Pam
• Thanks!
• Hi, please allocate my membership fees starting with April to support local emergency services until the YMCA reopens and then convert back to the regular membership.
• Thank you for your supporting our community
• Thank you!
• Thank you all so much for doing this!
• Thank you for all you do!
• Our membership is for our family. Please donate the entire amount. Thank you.
• Please use our membership/donation in any way you see fit. Day care and feeding programs would be our priority, but don’t feel constrained by that.
  I miss the Wellness Center and am happy to support the YMCA activity during this crisis. I miss your incredibly supportive staff.
  Please make sure both monthly payments for my husband and I are used as donations until things are back to normal.
• Please use both my wife and my membership as donations until you folks are back up and running again.
• Thank you for all you do for those in need.
• Thank you for supporting our community during this crisis.
• I hope this helps the Quincy Community and families in need. Our love and Support from The Kennedy Family
• Thank you for the very fine work that you do.
• Thank you for providing this opportunity.
• Thank you for all you are doing for our community in need.
• Keep up the good work.
• Please turn this family membership back to normal when emergency services return to usual functions.
• Is it possible to support elder assistance, such as providing food to the elderly?
• I am a healthcare worker and would prefer it to go to something specific, primarily feeding the young and the older population.
• Glad to do this. use the $ any way it is needed.
• For now we will donate our fees – if our employment situation changes, we might need to put a hold on. But for now please keep up the incredible work you all are doing right now. We are rooting for those most directly impacted by COVID as well as those on the front-lines. THANK YOU!
• I’m more than happy to do this as I count my blessings instead of sheep.
• Thank you.💕 & stay strong.
• God bless you & the folks you help.
• I am pleased to donate my membership during this period to help people in need and done under the leadership of the So Shore YMCA. Best wishes in your meaningful and important work.
• If any of the membership from March is able to be used toward this as well, please use it. Thank you for all that you are doing in an effort to help us and the community(-ies) in need.
• Hope this helps!
• Thank you for all you are doing to support the community.
• Thank you for everything, we can’t wait to get back to the gym and back to the ELC.
• Thanks for doing this.
• The Germantown Food bank and local food bank.
• Thank You.
• Thank you for providing for families in need of food at this time.
• Thank you for taking care of those in need!
• Glad you’re doing this.
• Stay safe & strong. Bless your work!
• We have two family members one the membership, including one senior. We will donate the entire monthly amount. Thanks.
• Keep up the good work.
• Thank you for doing this!
• Thank you for offering to suspend the membership during the closure. I am happy to donate to help the people in need. Good work!
• What a great idea, thank you!
• We are proud the the SSYMCA is doing this and happy to support the effort.
• I don’t remember if I did this or not, but wanted to make sure that my membership fees are donated.
• hope everyone at the Y and all your families are safe and well. Hoping everything will get back to normal soon. Stay Positive, Stay Safe.
• Thanks for all the good work you all continue to do!
• Hope my small action would help others who is in need.
• Hope to be back with my Y family soon God bless all.
• You guys are awesome for doing this, thank you!
• I had requested my membership suspended but would now like to donate.
• Thank you, great idea.
• Thank you for all you do!
• THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPASSION AND LEADERSHIP. THIS IS WHY I AM A LIFELONG YMCA MEMBER!
• Mr. Gorman, Your letter was heartfelt and we are happy to support all your efforts. Good luck to you and your family, your employees and their families, and all others you aim to help. Thank you.
• Thank you for offering this option.
• Thanks for all you do.
• Good luck, GOD Bless and stay safe.
• Keep up the great work. I’m grateful that our family can contribute our dues towards your mission.
• Thank you for doing this for those in our communities in need!
• Pleased to support the efforts you are making on behalf of vulnerable members of our community during this crisis.
• Thanks for giving us this opportunity!
• Glad I can help. Proud to be a former employee. I pray this pandemic will end sooner than projected.
• Best Wishes!
• Thank you for the work you are doing to serve our community.
• thank you for all you do for our communities in these very troubling times.
• Thank you for the work you are doing to help so many.
• Thank you for organizing this effort and making it so easy to give!
• Thank you for all you are doing.
• Thank you.
• Great idea. Thanks for making this easy to do. Happy to help where I can.
• Best of health & stay safe to everyone!! ❤️👍
• As a member of the America FC United soccer club who uses the YMCA frequently especially in the wintertime. I think it is my duty to help in whatever way I can and to also continue to foster a strong relationship with the YMCA.” – Conrad Whyte, President America FC United
• Stay safe. Thank you.
• Glad to help. Can’t wait to get back to swimming!!
• Thank you for all that you are doing to support our community. Stay safe & healthy.
• Thanks for all you do for our community!!
• Thank you for all you are doing!
• It’s so wonderful what the YMCA is doing! Proud to be a member!
• Thank you for your good work for our community during this difficult time.
• If you are accepting volunteers to help with the emergency services, I would be interested in volunteering, or donating food or helping in any way.
• Great idea. Thanks.
• Thank you for all you do and for all you are doing to help everyone in need during this crisis! we are happy to pay it forward with our membership!
• Keep up the good work!
• Good Luck!
• I want to donate my membership fee to support emergency service. Thank you for all you are doing for the community!
• The work you are doing in our community is very welcome – stay safe and healthy.
• We miss the Y!
• Happy to support the Y.
• I am a Y employee but pay for my mother’s senior membership so I would like to donate the money back!!
• Thank you! Be well and be safe!
• After seeing the beds at Quincy YMCA for the homeless i have decided to donate my membership fees. I am proud to be a member of the South Shore YMCA.
• My family is part of America FC United (AFC) and we value our partnership with the Quincy YMCA. This donation is in recognition of this and the work the YMCA does in our community. Thank you.
• I can donate my membership for up to 3 months, but if things are still closed after that, I might need to freeze it. Can you please check in with me again in a few months? Thank you for all you do to the community!
• I hope to see you soon. Stay safe and sane.
• Thank you. I am part of the America FC United soccer club (AFC) that is fortunate to partner with Quincy YMCA for our training. This donation is in recognition of this and all that the YMCA does for our community. – Dave O’Neil
• Thanks for supporting the community. Looking forward to returning to the Y!
• Thank you!
• Thank you for giving us a choice.
• Thank you for doing this.
• GOD BE WITH US ALL!
• Thank you for all that the YMCA does!
• I recently donated for April but I will also include MAY.
• Please donate our joint membership. Thank you for the work you do for our community. Wishing you all good health. <3
• Thank you!
• Wonderful effort on the part of the Y.
• Hello, I’m pleased to help my community during this hard time. Thanks for providing the option.
• Food and childcare for health care workers.
• Thank you! Missing the Y especially the Partnership Program. Wishing and praying for all.
• Thank you for the important work you are doing.
• Stay well, can’t wait to get back in the pool!
• Thank you for all you do to support our community!
• Thank you YMCA for being such an important part of our community <3
• Please use this as a tax deductible donation until life gets back to some semblance of normal.
• We’re going to stay with you as long as we can.
• My wife and I will also be donating $100 to support the Germantown Food Bank and child care for emergency workers. Thanks for all you do and hope to see you again soon!
• Thank YOU All.
• Good luck – hope to see you soon.
• Prayers for all to stay safe! I’m a nurse & ask that you urge all to stay home!
• Thank you for all you do.
• Thank you for all you are doing for our community!
• Stay safe, positive, and healthy. Thank you for your good work.
• Thank you for providing this opportunity to donate my membership.
• Please use towards Quincy emergency services if possible, thank you.
• Please keep up the good work!
• Although I miss going to the Y, I understand how important it is to be safe and healthy. I gladly donate my membership to help in any way that you deem necessary.
• Thank you for doing this!
• Great plan!
• Thank you for giving us the opportunity to give back.
• You guys are doing a great job.
• Thank you for your work to support the residents of the city I love so much.
• I am hereby donating the future membership fees to support emergency services.
• Keep up the wonderful work you all do and stay safe.
• Stay Safe and Thank You!
• Thank you for the charitable work you do. Stay safe and healthy.
• Thank you
• Hello, I would like to donate my April’s membership fee. Stay safe and God blessed.
• Great idea! Thank you.
• Best wishes to all in the community who are in need during this challenging time. I moved to Quincy recently from Dallas and the Y has been a welcoming community spot from the start of my time here.
• Best of luck with your endeavors and see you when you reopen
• God Bless us
• I am happy to help! I commend the hard work and contributions of the Quincy YMCA to the community!
• Thank you for all you do for our communities!
• Please donate the entire household. Thank you! Be well. Can’t wait to get back into the Quincy Y!
• We would love our membership fee to help feed the hungry in our community and help seniors.
• Even when closed, the Y does great things for our community! Thank you!
• Thank you for keeping us informed and providing ongoing daycare, senior services, and food pantry. Wishing you all good health.
• This is a family membership. Keep up the good work!
• I will be praying for your staff as you continue to provide services to those in need in our community during this critical time. God bless you.
• Thank you for the great work you’re doing. Makes me proud to be a member.
• Thank you & all of the employees that are taking on being courageous, still meeting those in our communities face to face that desperately need that type of support. Food shelter & hope! Donating our membership pales in comparison to the good works the Y has done for decades. Thank you!
• Grrrrrrreat Idea!!!!! Stay safe!!!!
• Prayers for everyone.
• We will be just fine if we pull together.
• God Bless all that you do!
• I am very pleased that the Y is cooperating with Father Bill’s to provide temporary housing during this time of crisis. Thank you for caring for the vulnerable in our community.
• Stay healthy!
• Happy to help.
• Stay safe!
• God Bless!
• Thank you for the support you are providing to our community.
• Prayers for all !!
• I support the Y in its efforts to assist the neediest within our community. Best wishes.
• Thank you great idea 💡
• Stay safe
• I can donate my membership to emergency services. Thank you!
• Thank you
• I would like to donate my fees to help pay the dedicated early morning staff
• Thank you for this wonderful idea, we are happy to donate our monthly fee.
• It is an honor to donate my membership to the Quincy YMCA. Best wishes to everyone and in everything. Thanks.
• Looking forward to seeing you all again soon…….giving up swimming 5-7 miles per week in the pool is not only physically exhilarating but is also my meditation! Be well Stay healthy!
• Great idea! Thank you!
• Stay well, and I’m looking forward to the day the Y reopens. In the meantime, if you need volunteers to help you out during this time, please reach out to me.
• Please use the fee(s) however you see fit.
• Stay well everyone!
• Thank you for this!
• Happy to help
• Thank you for making this process easy
• Thank you! We are long standing members and have loved the Y.
• We appreciate the great work the Y does for the community
• Thank you for your work!
• Be safe, stay healthy. Best wishes.
• Pls donate our family membership fees until the Y has reopened. Thank you.
• Thank you for offering this option and I look forward to returning when we can safely use the facilities!
• Keep going and thank you SO much for the extensive, explanatory email!
• Your commitment to our community is inspiring during these difficult times. Thank you for your service!
• Thank you for all the hard work you guys do!!!
• Thank you. Please stay healthy and safe 🙏🏻🙏🏻
• Appreciate all your communication!
• thank you for All that you do!”
• Due to my husband’s recent hospitalization we had asked to suspend our membership for March & April, but given the current Covid 19 crisis, we choose instead to donate our fees to support emergency services. Be safe & stay healthy.
• Well done in trying times. Be safe and be well.
• Go for it!!
• thank you for doing everything you do everyday! wishing you and your team a healthy and safe journey over these next few months.
• I will continue to pay as usual. If you want to take my payment as a donation until I start again, that is fine.God bless you guys. stay safe.
• Thank you for the email. This crisis could last until sometime this summer.
• Thank you for continuing to help during this challenging time.
• What a wonderful way to help others! Thank you for making this possible.
• Thanks for all you do.
• Good luck and God bless. Stay safe.