Delivering Opportunity for Kids Who Need it Most

Meet Hunter

As we walked and talked with the 12-year-old soccer fanatic, we got closer and closer to the gymnasium. When we walked in another member saw Hunter with his soccer ball and asked “Hey, do you want to play with us?”. Hunter’s face lit up and he looked to his mom for approval. She nodded with a smile and watched him play.

Meet Hunter’s mom, Charlene.

A single mother, she and Hunter have been coming to the Y for several years. Hunter learned to swim at the Y, starting with baby swim class, and is now a confident swimmer. “The Y has given my son the life-saving skill of swimming and given me the peace of mind that he is safe in the water.” says Charlene as we walked through the Y, Hunter by her side dribbling his soccer ball in his feet.

Charlene recounts life as a single mom, living on minimum wage with a young child, and being referred to the Y by a social service agency. Funds were very tight and Hunter has always been an active kid – he loves to play and keep busy. Charlene recognizes the importance of everything the Y has to offer. “Kids need outlets for their energy, need to be around other kids, and it’s just not good to be at home on video games and screens all the time. I try to give him all the opportunities I can, and the Y has really helped with that”.

Through the Y’s Recreation Opportunities for Children and subsidized membership at the Y, Hunter participated in swim lessons, basketball, soccer, painting and crafts, and special events like the Halloween Howl. The Y also gave Charlene a release, and a small bit of time to herself, to walk on the treadmill or track and clear her mind while Hunter was active in the gymnasium. “It lets me get my mind off things, lets me relax, and gives me head space to open up a bit more.”

Last year Hunter was also given the opportunity to attend Camp Stephens, the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg’s overnight Camp in Lake of the Woods, and he’s excited to return this July. “He loved it. It gave him independence and confidence to learn new things and do things on his own,” says Charlene.

Now with a steady job, Charlene has confidence for the future but recognizes it’s not without challenges. “It’s still really hard to make ends meet. But I will keep pushing to make sure Hunter gets opportunities because he deserves them along with every other kid.”

Charlene thanks all the donors who have made Hunter’s Y experiences possible. “It really affects kids when they can’t participate. When they are at home all the time and don’t have social interaction, it’s not good. Being around other kids is important to grow, to learn to communicate and handle issues” explains Charlene.

“It’s more than basketball or soccer, it’s figuring out problems, learning how to be part of a team. At the Y, he feels like he is part of something.”