Together We Can Build a Better Us!

Impact Story

In the past two weeks, we’re able to offer a single father, who has been going through a rough time, a scholarship for his kids to attend our after school program. He immediately started to cry and couldn’t believe it. “I don’t understand why God is blessing us but we are truly thankful and can’t wait to see all the success that my son will get out of being able to attend the Y after school program,” states the Father.

Important Statistics

Capital Project

Approximately 3 years ago, the YMCA Board began to explore the idea of moving all of our operations back into one building. During that time we’ve conducted many surveys, explored numerous options, analyzed the financial impact, interviewed close to 50 community leaders and evaluated the needs of the community. We’ve put a lot of time and energy into this process and today we feel even more confident that consolidating into one facility is the best decision and will allow us to thrive. We are moving forward in the process and a capital campaign is coming soon.  

Free 6th Grade Memberships

Over the past several years we have seen a steady decline in participation from middle school students in our YMCA programs (6th – 8th Grade). In an effort to get them more involved, our YMCA began offering free memberships to all 6th graders in Adams County. To date, over 50 6th graders are taking advantage of this program and have access to a safe and active environment. Our annual campaign allows us to offer programs like this in our community.

Aquatics

In 1910, George Corsan began swim lessons at the Detroit YMCA, with the goal “to teach every man and boy in North America” to swim. Over 109 years later this remains a strong focus at the Hastings Family YMCA. During the past year over 350 area youth took swim lessons at the Hastings Family YMCA. Besides how to be safe around water, there are a lot of important skills that are learned during swim lessons. Trust, confidence, following directions, and safety, just to name a few. With the only indoor pool in Hastings, we take great pride and ownership in being the leader in aquatic programming. 

Blood Pressure Monitoring Program

Deemed the “silent killer”, 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure and only 50% of those are treating it. High blood pressure accounts for approximately 1,100 deaths per day. Since 2016, our blood pressure monitoring program has served nearly 200 participants. This free program provides blood pressure monitoring cuffs, training, nutrition seminars and consultations with Healthy Heart Ambassadors. This program has been such a huge success, that this year we were recognized nationally by YUSA and Blue Cross and Blue Shield. 

Cooking Club

One of our favorite programs, that continues to grow each year, is cooking club. Offered to area youth in grades PreK to 5th grade, cooking club is an after school program were participants get to cook using healthy recipes. One major issue plaguing our community is childhood obesity. Youth in our county are 4% more obese then youth in surrounding counties. Our cooking club is one small way we combat this issue. Teaching kids to cook, shop and eat healthy is life-changing and we’re extremely proud of this program. 

Grant Funding

We were very blessed to receive 6 grants to help us sustain and maintain six very important programs. 

• $2,350 from YUSA for our Blood Pressure Self Monitoring program
• $4,500 from YUSA to provide group swim lessons to kids who could not afford the registration fees. 
• $8,000 from Sunnyside Foundation to provide 10 full scholarships to kids at the Adams Central After School Program. 
• $5,000 from Blue Cross and Blue Shield for Blood Pressure Monitoring program. 
• $6,000 from YUSA for Food Program.
• $500 from the Nebraska Tennis Association for our tennis camp. 

After School Enrichment Programs

For many years the Hastings Family YMCA has been a leader in providing quality care to area youth in our after school programs. In the past two years, we’ve taken this program to new heights by expanding our programs to one additional off-site location (Adams Central Elementary) and enhancing the services we offer to those participating in our program. Two years ago we added the word enrichment to our program name. We did this to signify that our program goes beyond “babysitting”, but instead becomes an extension of the classroom. Our staff provides a safe environment, homework assistance, healthy snack, active play, hands-on learning and so much more! We are enriching the lives of every student we come in contact with.

Our Mission:

To put Christian Principles into Practice Through Programs that Build Spirit, Mind, and Body For All!

Troy Stickels, CEO