Although the start of the school year has looked a little different for many families in our community, the Y has remained dedicated to working with our partner school districts to provide much-needed child care through our new Kid Zone PLUS program.
The Y has emphasized new health and safety measures as well as adapted site programming to meet the educational needs of children. These efforts would not be possible without the charitable support of local organizations like the Ladies Philoptochos Society of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, which has provided assistance to Kid Zone PLUS sites in Joliet through its Operation Classroom Program.
Each school year, the Church selects a school or classroom to support from a wide group of nominations. As this year’s selected program, Kid Zone PLUS has already received significant contributions from the Ladies Philoptochos Society. Earlier this fall, a successful Kleenex and paper towel drive provided sites with additional health and safety resources, and this month an anonymous donor provided 75 sound cancelling headphones which will assist students with remote learning.
The Y would like to thank Galowich and Smith Family YMCA Advisory Council Member Maria Macris, Operation Classroom Chairwoman Helen Wallace, and Ladies Philoptochos Society President Kathy Macris for their generous support of the YMCA. Kid Zone PLUS looks forward to continuing this partnership throughout the school year. Watch for additional updates about this wonderful partnership on the Galowich Family YMCA and Smith Family YMCA Facebook pages.
Pictured above (L-R): Galowich Family YMCA Child Care Director Brooke Hall, All Saints Greek Orthodox Church Parish Priest Fr. Chris Avramopoulos, Operation Classroom Chairwoman Helen Wallace, Ladies Philoptochos Society President Kathy Macris, and Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Jim Watts.
Although the Y has been challenged to adapt the way it serves the community during the COVID-19 public health crisis, it has remained dedicated to working with local partners to promote health and wellness for area residents. Through its commitment to encouraging members of all ages to embrace healthy living, the Y provides an array of programs for seniors ranging from fitness classes to social activities. These efforts are made possible through the generosity of organizations like Ottawa Savings Bank, which recently awarded a $5,250 grant to the Morris Community YMCA in support of the YMCA Mission Strong Fund. 
Although the YMCA’s Kid Zone PLUS programs have had to adapt this fall in the wake of the COVID-19 public health crisis, providing valuable learning experiences for children remains at the forefront of the Y’s mission. That is why the Smith Family YMCA is excited to partner with Lewis University for a series of health and wellness presentations designed to teach children in Kid Zone PLUS about the importance of healthy living. 
Through its commitment to youth development, the Y nurtures the potential of every child in its Kid Zone PLUS programs by incorporating the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility in a resource-rich environment for children in grades K-8. Although the current public health crisis has presented new challenges, the Y has worked diligently with its partner school districts to adapt its child care programs to meet the needs of families in Will and Grundy Counties. These efforts are made possible through the generosity of organizations like J-Power USA, which recently provided a $5,000 donation in support of the YMCA Mission Strong Fund and Kid Zone PLUS. 
