A note from our President and CEO, David Connell:
Good Evening:
As we come to the close of another month, I wanted to share my perspective on some of the “Responders” during COVID-19. However, a few minutes ago, I received this email from Paula Perrier, Director of Child Development Services at The Sarah and Richard Hardy YMCA Child Development Center in Southbridge. I believe that Paula’s words amplifies the outstanding work that will continue in the days and weeks ahead. Thank you Paula and Team.
Paula wrote:
(Please share with anyone I might have missed!)
It’s nearly closing time on June 30, 2020. A cloudy and rainy, but warm afternoon here in Southbridge and we can all finally take a deep breath and exhale, knowing that today is Day #69 for us here at the Sarah and Richard Hardy YMCA Child Development Center. Sixty nine days providing emergency childcare to the children of parents who had to go to work at essential positions during the COVID-19 pandemic; 14 long weeks! It was a much sadder good bye than I had predicted. Many of our children had climbed into our hearts and will be greatly missed as they too, return to their new normal. The best thing about today is knowing so many of our “old” friends will return to our care next week. Zooming with our families and seeing so many of our children certainly made us long for their return. But, we will miss our new “emergency” friends and their families.
We remained healthy. We remained safe. We were apprehensive at first, forging unchartered waters. There were so many things that we did not know about this virus; but we learned together and we also learned our own strength to be resilient and creative. We stretched ourselves in order to be able to do what we do best; provide quality education and care to children. I can delightedly report that we all did it! This period will always remain with me as one of the greatest successes in my many years. Children were safely cared for while their parents went to work each day knowing their children were in a good place. We played, we learned, and we got to know new friends. We smiled, we laughed, and we practiced “physical” distancing, while never allowing ourselves to become “socially” distant. I cannot thank the educators ( and administrators) who stepped up and answered this call. Thank you to our TCY emergency staff and thank you to our brothers and sisters from the other YMCA of Central branches who did the same in their communities. Thank you to our supervisors and the continued support they readily offered us all. Truly, this was a YMCA team effort.
I am very proud to work alongside all of you!
Good luck on your reopening! We all should be experts by now!
– Paula
Paula A. Perrier
Director of Child Development Services
The Sarah and Richard Hardy YMCA Child Development Center
115 Marcy Street
