Make a Difference
As the leading nonprofit for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y works side-by-side with our neighbors every day to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. To do our important work, the Y relies on support from members, donors, volunteers and community leaders.
When you are involved with the Y, you help bring about lasting personal and social change. Whether you want to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve your or your family’s health and well-being, or give back and support your neighbors, your involvement with the Y will positively impact those in your community.
How Can I Support the Y?
There are many different ways to support the Y. You can help through financial giving through our annual campaign, a capital campaign or our Heritage Society. You can also give-in-kind, volunteer your time, and give online.
Make a Gift
The YMCA Is a Vital Part of Our Community
Funds raised for the Alpha Community Services YMCA provide financial assistance for children, families and individuals who may be in need of an emergency shelter, transitional housing, supportive housing, and permanent affordable housing.
As one of the largest and oldest charitable organizations in the region, you can rest assured that your designated gift remains in your community.
Other Ways to Give
The generosity of others is at the core of our existence. Not everyone is able to make a financial contribution to the organization, but everyone has the opportunity to get involved. When you volunteer at the Y, you take an active role in bringing about meaningful, enduring change in your own community. As a volunteer, you’ll be working with other caring, committed people who want to make a difference in your community.
To get involved, call 203.366.2809 or email ccolon@cccymca.org.
Volunteer
What can I do?
Make a big difference! Volunteer opportunities at the Central Connecticut Coast YMCAs run the gambit, from one-time commitments such as helping at a special event to longer-term opportunities such as coaching youth and teen sports and tutoring youth.
Benefits of Volunteering with the YMCA
The Alpha Community Services YMCA offers volunteers a chance to improve the lives of children and families and to make our communities stronger. In addition to feeling great about your efforts, volunteers have the opportunity to:
- Experience personal growth
- Give back to the community through service to others
- Explore and/or discover a hidden passion
- Expand knowledge and skills through training
- Fulfill community service requirements for school credit
- Develop new relationships and make friends
- Gain community service experience to add to college, financial aid, scholarship and employment applications
- Learn, grow and HAVE FUN!
Volunteers are critically important to carrying out our mission, so we ask our program volunteers to go through an application and screening process similar to that of our paid staff members. This process ensures that the best fit is made between the new volunteer and the program they are matched with, while also ensuring the safety.
Volunteer Leadership
Focused on creating lasting personal and social change for our community
The Alpha Community Services YMCA is governed by our Board of Managers that consists of volunteers from throughout our local community.
- Seth Cooper, Chair
- Ed Piendl, Vice-Chair
- Michael Leone, Treasurer
- Sabine Kuczo, Secretary
- Nicolas Ancel
- Beth Atlas
- Jonathan Brochstein
- Dennis Cahill
- Joe Clark
- Jim Cosgrove
- Pilar Gonzalez
- Paul Hirsch
- Grace Leone
- Judi Menegay
- Martha Orenstein
- Jane Selden
- Steven Stafstrom, Jr.
- Joe Tiago
Give Online
Since our founding, Alpha Community Services Y has been dedicated to making a positive impact in people’s lives through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. We see it happen every day.
But we haven’t done it alone. Community leaders, businesses and Y members give to the annual Strong Kids Campaign to ensure we never turn anyone away due to an inability to pay. Our annual Strong Kids Campaign provides the funds needed to make homes affordable, provide case management services and life-enhancing experiences that build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.
Last year, our Y reached out and helped more than 1,685 people across Connecticut. Through donations from people like you, we provided $1,774,873 in subsidized or free programs and services that foster youth development, promote healthy living, and encourage social responsibility.
Together, we can continue to build and strengthen our community by empowering people.
For the past 19 years, our community has come to rely on us for affordable housing coupled with comprehensive support services. More than just a place to sleep, our housing facilities offer services such as case management, job training and continuing education classes. We provide a sense of community, hope and a safe place to belong to a growing population of homeless men, women and children.
That’s because we’re more than “just a shelter,” and this is not a “gift.” Your investment will make a meaningful, enduring impact in our community.
How Your Donation Makes an Impact:
$2,500 will assist with meals provided to homeless men, women and children residing in our housing programs;
$1,000 will help purchase beds, cribs and other furnishings for our residents;
$500 will help purchase clothing and household items used at the family emergency shelter;
$250 will help fund bus tokens for homeless families and individuals to use for transportation to take care of daily responsibilities, medical appointments, work and school;
$100 will help purchase cleaning supplies used in our shelter, transitional and supportive housing programs;
$50 will help purchase healthy snacks for homeless children in our shelter program