Amber Alexander, one of the newest members of the Portage Exchange Club, addressed the club at the November 28 meeting. She gave a brief autobiography and then talked about her duties and activities as Senior Program Director at the Portage YMCA, as well as the history and goals of the Y.
Alexander and her family lived in the Black Oaks section of Gary until 1996 when the family moved to Wheeler. She graduated from Wheeler High School in 2003 and Ball State in 2007. She then spent a year doing volunteer service with AmeriCorps, a domestic organization similar to the Peace Corps.
She worked at the Caring Place, helping families that included victims of domestic violence. There she set up a volunteer program. Following this, she worked with the Valparaiso School System, working with Track 4 students, many of whom were at risk because of family, societal or personal issues.
Alexander set up a Service Learning Club and a tutoring program. Students tutored each other and special education students. She held a beach clean-up activity, followed by a beach party.
That summer, she worked at the YMCA Summer Day Camp. This led to a permanent position at the Y.
Alexander obviously has a passion for the Y and its mission. She shared some history of the organization. The YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) was started in England in 1844 by 22-year-old George Williams, who wanted to provide a safe refuge for young men alone in Industrialized London. It provided a hot meal, a safe place to stay and Bible study. The organization also attempted to meet pressing social needs of the day.
In 1851, Thomas Sullivan began the first American YMCA in Boston, Massachusetts.
Now the Y is found in 124 countries and 10,000 counties in the United States. It is the largest childcare provider in the world and offers financial aid to those families that cannot afford memberships. Its goal is to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. They wish to give “a hand up, not a hand out,” according to Alexander.
Alexander said the pre-school and before- and after-school programs provide a safe and healthy environment for many youngsters from the community. The areas are locked down, with no one getting in without proper identification. The children can participate in youth sports, a computer lab, a tutoring program and other activities.
The Portage Y has been a force in the community for 72 years. One of the newer developments is a partnership with St. Mary’s Medical Center. Once a month a nurse from St. Mary’s comes to talk to the children about making healthy choices. The nurse is also available to take blood pressure for the adults and to provide other screenings for free or at a low cost.
There are four free initiatives per month, offered to members and nonmembers. They have a free walking program on the Trails, a free running program, open swim on the first Friday of every month and open volleyball.
The Ys Strong Kids Campaign is the primary fundraiser. It provides most of the funds for the over $160,000 in memberships given away annually.
Alexander offered an invitation to the club and the community. On December 7, the Y will host an Evening with Santa. This is a perfect place to bring pre-schoolers and young school age children to play games, have a meal for $3.00, and meet with Santa Claus.
They will also have a Bowl-a-Thon on March 10, 2013.
For further information about the YMCA, what it offers, how to join or donate, please go to the Y on Willowcreek Road or check out their website at www.ymcaofportage.org.