This summer, La Porte County Family YMCA created Michigan City’s first-ever full Summer Day Camp to help keep children involved while they’re not in school and to provide working parents some peace of mind knowing their children are well taken care of during the workday. However, many families in Michigan City struggle with poverty. Now, thanks to the generosity of the 1st Source Foundation and its $27,000 grant, La Porte County Family YMCA is able to offer this wonderful program at a reduced cost to families in need.
La Porte County Family YMCA’s mission has always been to provide quality programming to people of all backgrounds, regardless of their ability to pay, but what many people may not realize is that this mission is made possible by the kindness of the community.
“A YMCA’s membership fees pay for the brick and mortar--all of the facilities and salaries. The scholarships that help make programs even more accessible, though, are funded by grants and donations. When a community-oriented company like 1st Source Foundation offers to help, its donation goes directly to our families that need it most,” said Laurie Halaska, CEO of La Porte County Family YMCA.
When the 1st Source Foundation team learned about La Porte County Family YMCA’s new Summer Day Camp, they believed it was an important resource for the community and wanted to contribute. The team awarded La Porte County Family YMCA a grant that would change countless families' lives. Already, the grant has saved some parents up to 50% every single week.
“Their donation is huge--it means everything,” said Halaska. “We’ve always wanted to run a camp in Michigan City because there's such a need for families, but we also knew the cost could be prohibitive. That money has helped us bring in children that might never have been able to come.”
The Michigan City Summer Day Camp, also called Camp Michigami, is truly one-of-a-kind. Firstly, it’s the only camp in Michigan City that runs all 11 weeks of the summer--it starts right after a child’s last day in the classroom and continues all summer until they’re welcomed back to school. The camp is also one of the only camps to run the entire day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, as well as offer childcare before and after.
The longevity of the program has a huge impact on working parents who can’t stay home with their children during the summer months. It gives parents peace of mind, knowing their child is not just being loved and taken care of, but being encouraged to grow.
“There are so many other camps in the area that offer great opportunities, but they only run for six weeks, so for working families, it can be a struggle to find safe, caring, and educational care for their children all summer. This program is great for parents because it allows them to go to work every day with less stress because they know they’ve dropped their children off somewhere they’re going to have fun and learn,” said Halaska.
The program is also special because it provides children with the opportunity to do things their families may not be able to afford or make time for, such as going on trips to the water park and planetarium, swimming in the pool every single day, visiting exotic zoo animals, and going to the library each week.
The children are also challenged to continue their learning in fun ways that help them learn without even realizing it. Already this summer, the kids took part in all kinds of arts and crafts activities, grew their own plants, and listened to guest speakers teach them about things like healthy eating. Something the kids especially loved was when their Camp Director Kathy Workman brought in a unique type of food each week for them to taste in the hope of expanding their taste buds.
“Programs like this are important because kids need to be active all year round. Even if they’re not learning from a book or doing homework they're still learning in a different way from experience, and that helps them develop critical thinking and social skills,” said Halaska.
The camp also offers free lunch and breakfast to each child, helping to eliminate food insecurity in Michigan City.
Ultimately, 1st Source Foundation is proud to have had the opportunity to support such an impactful program and help La Porte County YMCA further its mission of providing quality programming to the children and families of our community.
“La Porte County Family YMCA provides invaluable services to families and children in our community,” said Matt Vessely, West Region President of 1st Source Bank. “By reducing the financial burden on families and ensuring the Summer Day Camp is accessible to all, they are strengthening our community and enriching the lives of kids while also providing peace of mind to their families. We’re happy to partner with them to help make this possible.”
Thanks to 1st Source Foundation, La Porte County YMCA is already making plans for next year’s summer camp, and can’t wait to provide even more parents in need with an invaluable opportunity to set their children on the path to success.
“We’re already talking about what field trips we want to plan for next year and looking for more camp counselors. We hope the program will continue to grow and impact more people. The key is to keep our youth engaged and give them a way to burn off some energy, learn, and have fun at the same time,” said Halaska.
To learn more about 1st Source Foundation and how it gives back to the community, visit 1stsource.com.
To learn more about The La Porte County Family YMCA and all of its wonderful programs, visit lpymca.org.
