The Gleason Family YMCA held its annual Bite for a Help fundraiser packed with prizes, games, and live music to not only raise funds, but to help continue building relationships within the community.
Many people from the community came out to support the YMCA at a fundraiser held at Stone Pass Malt on Thursday, Oct. 3, and the organization raised more than $20,000.
According to Gleason Family YMCA Senior Executive Director Debbie Fringelli, the YMCA will be distributing gift cards, holding silent auctions, and collecting donated packages from local businesses to help raise money to support members. They reportedly sponsored a raffle to distribute the items.
“We have funds to provide scholarships to attend the YMCA, take swimming lessons, attend summer camp, receive child care, and participate in major programs. We collect them,” Fringeli said. . “This is a great opportunity to help us reach our goal of raising $190,000 this year, but it’s not always about the money.”
In addition to being the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year, Fringeli said the event is about continuing to build community.
“A (YMCA) member came up to me and said she joined the YMCA in January and the YMCA has really become a community for her,” Fringeli said. “She said she’s met a lot of people and can’t say enough about how positive and energetic the atmosphere is and that this is why we do this. It reminded me.”
Fringeli explained that the YMCA promotes not only physical health, but also mental and emotional health by providing people with a space to build relationships and friendships.
“The YMCA is unique and we are not your typical gym,” Fringeli said. “We’re giving back to the community. That’s the economic part, which helps us give back to the community.”
