Y's Men to offer help to families
By From staff reports
Published in News on November 18, 2015 1:46 PM
The Y's Men program at Goldsboro Family Y will have an event Dec. 13 from 4 to 8 p.m. to serve local families not receiving assistance from anywhere else for Christmas.
The program provides gift cards, food and other items for these families.
Last year, Y's Men helped 87 families," said Kriquette Davis with the Family Y.
"There was a grand total of $31,500 just in gift cards," she said. "Each family received $350 in gift cards."
There were also more than 400 boxes of food that had been donated and a donation of shoes.
This year will be the 14th year that the Y's Men has helped local families. The number of families being helped has grown each year.
Families are chosen through the schools, Boys and Girls Club, Wayne Pregnancy Center, Wayne Uplift Domestic Violence Program, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, 3HC, Southeastern Medical Oncology Center and local churches.
Once the families arrive at the event, they are partnered with a volunteer to go shopping either at Target or WalMart. Their children stay at the Family Y and participate in various events until their parents return from shopping.
As each family is leaving, it receives a blessings basket that includes a Bible.
"It's a night that the families and volunteers will never forget," Ms. Davis said.
The Family Y currently has a joining fee special going on through Dec. 15. New members can take in a $50 gift card instead of paying the joining fee, and 100 percent of the gift card will go to the Y's Men program.
The Family Y is also looking for volunteers to help with the celebration. Anyone interested in volunteering should call 919-778-8557 or email to kriquette.davis@goldsboroymca.org.