Uniontown Area YMCA
For Youth Development, For Healthy Living, For Social Responsibility
The Uniontown Area YMCA was awarded a grant from the Community Foundation of Fayette County in the spring of 2018. The grant funded a program that addressed food insecurity, access to fresh food, disease prevention, sedentary lifestyles, and a lack of dietary education.
Jacquelyn Core of the Uniontown Area YMCA explained that the CFFC was one of the first organizations that she contacted when she first became the YMCA’s CEO. Therefore, when there was a need to conduct this program, she felt it was a perfect fit.
“When I came to the YMCA, I realized how very little people know about fresh food, how to prepare it and its nutrients. I did not realize the huge role that food plays at the YMCA. We do feed a lot of children,” said Jacquelyn.
“I felt it was necessary to get information to younger children. But, what role could we play? We decided that through this program, we could send fresh produce and recipes home,” added Jacquelyn.
In addition to providing their families with access to fresh produce and healthy recipes, participating youth gained an insight into growing food and farming with herb and vegetable gardens; completed one-hour weekly educational sessions; attended two field trips (one to a farm and the other one was a therapeutic hike); and, planted herb spirals and community gardens.
“Because of the CFFC grant, there were kids that got to have these experiences. The program kicked the door to the world open for them. It provided them with experiences that they probably would have never been given,” said Jacquelyn.
To learn more about this program and the Uniontown Area YMCA, please visit www.uniontownymca.org.
