Baby Shower Event for Infants and Children at YMCA

The Boroughs Family Branch of the YMCA of Central Massachusetts hosted a campaign called “The Baby Shower” and invited the youth of the community to bring items for infants and children in need.

Spearheaded by Erin Demand, Child Care Director of the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, the campaign’s mission was to impart the spirit of giving to the youngest members of the YMCA community starting with ages 3 years and older.  With a serious message of giving back to those less fortunate, Erin wanted the campaign to be more lighthearted and fun—Thus the Baby Shower theme evolved.  The Borough’s YMCA collected a substantial amount of items that will serve many families who have infants and toddlers.

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Click here to learn more about the Boroughs Family Branch

The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)  of Central Massachusetts is one of 9 non profits receiving a grant from Bank of America to boost local workforce skills.  The grant will help the Y’s teen programming, which equips students with the  skills to graduate high school, go on to college and become leaders in the community.

“With support from Bank of America, the YMCA of Central Massachusetts is nurturing the potential of youth through initiatives like the Minority Achievers Programs, Youth & Government, Spartacus and Y-Fit. Through their investment, we will deepen our impact in the 57 communities in the heart of the Commonwealth,” said Kathryn Zingg Hunter, President/CEO, YMCA of Central Massachusetts.

Bank of America has provided financial support for YMCA programming for more than 15 years.

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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and our YMCA is joining with YMCAs all across the country to take action and raise awareness about how to prevent child sexual abuse.

We want all children to be safe. The safety and protection of children and teens in our care is our primary concern. Unfortunately, child sexual abuse does exist and we all have a role to play in protecting children throughout our community.

Here are just a few of the steps our YMCA takes to protect the children we serve: Child Protection Policy pdf

As a community member, we know you share our commitment to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. You too can play a role in protecting kids in our community, by learning more about how to prevent child sexual abuse and helping us get the word out to others. That’s why we’re sharing this information with you.

If you have any questions about our YMCA’s child protection policies and practices, please contact our staff. If you’d like to learn more about how to prevent child sexual abuse, visit these experts in the field to learn more:

• Darkness to Light
• Praesidium
• Stop It Now

Download these helpful info-graphics to spread awareness:

5 steps to protect children

Facts about child sexual abuse

Parent’s guide to selecting youth serving organizations

Thank you for joining us in raising awareness to keep kids safe this April.