Honoring Military Families
How the Santa Monica Family YMCA Build Belonging for Those Who Serve
November is Military Family Month – a time to recognize and honor the service, resilience, and sacrifice of families who gice so much to our nation. At the YMCA in Santa Monica, we are proud to welcome military families, offering resources and programs that provide strength, stability, and a sense of belonging.
A Legacy of Service
The Y’s connection to the military stretches back more than 160 years, beginning during the Civil War when Y volunteers provided support to soldiers in camps and hospitals. That commitment continues today through partnerships with the Dept of Defense and Armed Services YMCA, ensuring service members and their loved ones have access to child care, wellness programs, and community activities no matter where they are stationed. Visit ymca.org/military-outreach to see how these partnerships have evolved today.
Meeting the Needs of Military Families Today
Military life often comes with unique challenges: frequent moves that uproot families from established communities and networks, deployments that separate loved ones for long periods, and children navigating new schools and friendships. Programs at the Santa Monica Family YMCA seek to build a sense of belonging, achievement, relationship, and connection, helping anchor people to their community even during times of transition. Whether you are joining us for our Early Learning Center preschool, After School Enrichment, Group Exercise, Aquatics, or Active Older Adult programming, we are proud be a a place of stability and hope for people of all walks of life.
Military families carry the spirit of service every day. At the Y, we’re proud to stand with them, offering programs and support that strengthen not only their families, but our entire community. This November and beyond, we honor their courage, celebrate their resilience, and thank them for their service.
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Join us in celebrating 30 Days of Thankfulness at The Y. Fall is the perfect time to reflect and celebrate all the people, places, and things that enrich our lives. This November, we are sharing our gratitude and collecting stories about what matters most to each of us. We invite you to share a story about what you’re grateful for at this link or when you come into The Y!
However you choose to show your thanks this month, know that together we can build a collective sense of appreciation & connectedness that pours back into our community. At The Y, we have so much to be grateful for; our members and participants, our staff and volunteers, and our community that has supported us since 1927!
