How the YMCA of Greater Toronto stepped up throughout the COVID-19 pandemic

This week officially marks the two-year anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic. The last two years have posed many unique challenges and it’s clear that kindness, one of our charity’s core values, and empathy will be critical boosters against the effects of COVID-19.

A time of change, a time of action

Throughout the pandemic, the YMCA of Greater Toronto temporarily closed our locations and put our in-person services on hold while we transitioned to online programs and kept in touch with members and participants over the phone or via email. We improvised and helped where we could. From running food banks to transforming our spaces into COVID-19 vaccination clinics, our charity sprang into action to help our communities when they needed us most.

As the pandemic unfolded over the last two years, the YMCA of Greater Toronto responded by pivoting services to continue to step up to support those in our communities. We’re proud of the success of our initiatives throughout the pandemic; virtual delivery of programs, launching a community for older adults: The Bright Spot, offering emergency child care, and hosting COVID-19 testing clinics to name a few.

Looking forward to a brighter future

Now is our chance to come together as a collective and build a positive legacy in the wake of the pandemic. We must be kind to ourselves and others. We must remember that while some communities have been hit harder by the pandemic than others, no one has been unaffected over the last two years. As we continue to adapt to evolving health guidelines, kindness and empathy must light the way if we are to eventually put the pandemic behind us.

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