‘Y on the Fly’ Takes Off Thanks to Partners like BJ’s Wholesale Club
by MO MACEL
Healthy food and fun, safe activities aren’t things everyone has access to. Which is why the YMCA teams up with local community organizations and local businesses to provide their “Y on the Fly” program.
The “Y on the Fly” is a van-based pop-up at local spaces like libraries and feeding centers. The counselors arrive in vans and bring with them 60 minutes of fun activities and a healthy snack. Parachute play? Check. Kick balls? Check. Tasty treats? Check. “Y on the Fly” is chock-full of fun, fun, fun all thanks to partners like BJ’s Wholesale Club which help fund the fun essentials and healthy snacks.
After the fun and the snack, the kids are also given 30-minutes of healthy snack instruction so they can be equipped to make healthier decisions all year long. Complementing the kids programming is the “Hope For All” service for parents and guardians. “Hope For All” offers free income tax prep, assistance with benefits applications, and food pantry assistance. It’s a well-rounded win-win for the whole family.
“BJ’s is proud to donate to incredible local resources like the YMCA’s ‘Y on the Fly’ effort,” said Kyle Byrnes, Manger, Corporate Communications & Community Affairs at BJ’s Wholesale Club. “We are committed to our local communities in our footprint, and are particularly excited to help our new neighbors in Pittsburgh to grow and prosper, especially in areas that may be underserved.”
The program, which is free and open to kids of all ages, is a continuation of the Y’s effort to fill gaps in communities where there is not a physical YMCA building. It provides a safe and resourceful environment for kids to play and learn.
“We are thrilled to welcome BJ’s Wholesale Club to Pittsburgh and so grateful for the support that it has already begun to provide in our community,” said Carolyn Grady, SVP, Chief Development Officer, YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh. “BJ’s is teaming up with the YMCA as a long-term partner of the “Y on the Fly” program that delivers critical programs to children living in under-served neighborhoods. We are very excited to continue building a strong partnership with BJ’s and serving the families in our neighborhood together”
To learn more visit Y on the Fly.