Summer really IS a celebratory time! Even with all of the partial limitations, being able to toss remote learning ‘paperwork’ and graduation caps into the air with fervent abandon is a rite of passage not to be missed.

The Y celebrates all of you in every stage of your lives right at this moment.

Staying in the moment is the hardest trick to learn, isn’t it? Practicing it definitely makes for a far more satisfactory life. Always.

The evidence of families’ brilliant inventiveness around how to create joy together, in the midst of chaos, has been nothing short of astonishing. Well done, you!

A little forward momentum to share: The Y is currently anticipating actual CDC reopening Guidelines at the end of next week as stated from our Governor’s address to Californians yesterday. The pool and Y will all be reopened simultaneously, as we are still classified as a ‘gym’ and cannot partially open our Y. Still no date set by our governor for that reopening but we are preparing like crazy over here-more to come on that in future Y missives!

Current service: Our essential childcare is growing a bit as people slowly make their way back to work. We are still feeding 10,000 people daily with SMBSD and we will be retraining staff who we hope to bring back sooner rather than later on all of the new CDC Guidelines for your safety.

The enormous gratitude we have for your continued patience and support of our Y and mission has only tripled in size- much like the Grinch’s heart after he saw Whoville gather up and celebrate each other in spite of the current and seemingly ‘gift-less’ situation.

So may we all celebrate Summer in true Dr. Suess fashion!!! (He is the only doctor we hope any of you visit as we move forward together…..)

With gratitude, 

Shannon Seifert, CEO

The Emergency Child Care Funds has been established with United Way of Santa Barbara County and several local philanthropic foundations have joined the effort, led by Jane and Paul Orfalea/the Audacious Foundation and the Natalie Orfalea Foundation, with Lou Buglioli.

Please email Kelsey Apkarian at kapkarian@smvymca.org for applications and further information.