YMCA of East Tennessee

Congrats to our Cansler Y on the recognition from Native Plant Rescue Squad for their native garden! And thank you to ALL of the volunteers serving across all of our Y locations in all departments. Whether you're pulling weeds, mentoring a teen, grilling hot dogs for a special event, or coaching a youth sport, YOU are appreciated! Volunteers keep our Y community connected and thriving, and we couldn't do what we do without you!

A parent recently shared this with us:

"First of all I want to say thank you so much for this summer food program. I got laid off due to budget cuts and haven't been able to find another job. I have 14-month-old twins and a 4-year-old, and this program has been such a blessing."

This is why we do what we do.

When school is out, food insecurity doesn't take a summer break. Families across East Tennessee are facing unexpected challenges, and a simple meal can mean one less worry during a difficult season.

Every grab-and-go meal, every community lunch, and every meal served at our summer camps is made possible through the support of our partners, volunteers, donors, and dedicated staff. Together, we're helping ensure that children have the nutrition they need to grow, play, and thrive.

Thank you to everyone who makes our Summer Food Program possible. You're doing more than serving meals; you’re bringing hope to families when they need it most!

Join Our April 2027 Trip to Norway!

Venture to a place where crashing ocean meets craggy mountains, forging the natural majesty of the Norwegian fjords. From Bergen to Oslo, you’ll be awestruck by the grandeur of Norway.

Interested? Come to a no-obligation interest meeting September 15th at 10am at the Pilot Family Y Outdoor Pool building.

Learn more: https://groups.gocollette.com/en-US/link/1433090

Week 7 ❤️🍎

This week, the YMCA of East Tennessee served 25,944 meals through our East Tennessee Grab & Go sites, YMCA Summer Day Camps, and community lunches at our outdoor pool.

Every week, families share messages of gratitude with us. This week, one story from a family in Rutledge especially touched our hearts (shared with permission):

"Hello, thank you so much for the food program. It's an enormous help.

Currently our family has undergone tremendous financial strain as on 6/4 they found a tumor, which was scheduled to be removed 7/7. We have not been able to get help with SNAP or TANF in any way, and without your program our girls would be without. As a parent missing many meals just to be sure the girls eat has been hard. Unfortunately Grainger County seems to be strained... We appreciate everything you do and are glad because it's not Knoxville. You don't exclude the children in the least from a program that is dire. The fact you offer it is amazing, and again thank you!"

This is why the YMCA serves communities far beyond our city limits. We work alongside schools, community partners, and local organizations to reach families in rural communities and other areas where the need is greatest.

This week, we're confident we'll surpass 200,000 meals served for the summer.

As we celebrate that milestone, we hope you'll remember that every single meal represents something much bigger than food; it represents hope, dignity, and one less child going hungry.

Thank you for supporting our YMCA and your neighbors across East Tennessee!

Sometimes the impact of a program reaches far beyond the people it serves. Meet John, local Branch Manager with Mayfield Dairy Farms, and our newest Y volunteer!

All summer long, our YMCA Summer Food Program has been working behind the scenes with incredible partners and vendors who help us keep thousands of meals moving to children across East Tennessee. As of last Friday, we've served 165,064 meals this summer... and every one of those meals included a milk carton that had to be ordered, processed, and delivered by Mayfield.

Week after week, our Mayfield Dairy representative John has processed orders for the thousands of cartons of milk to help make this program possible. But after learning more about the children and families we serve, he decided he wanted to do more than fill an order.

This week, he traded the office for a volunteer shirt and spent the day serving families at our YMCA Grab & Go meal site at East Knox Elementary.

When people see the impact of this program, they don't just want to support it; they want to be part of it.

Thank you to John and our friends at Mayfield for helping us nourish children all summer long, and for reminding us that every role, whether behind the scenes or face-to-face, helps make a difference through our Summer Food Program!

Nothing beats a summer day at Y Camp... except when the fire trucks show up! 🚒💦

Last week, our YMCA Summer Day Camp kids beat the heat thanks to our local fire departments from both Rural Metro and the City of Knoxville. Campers explored the fire trucks, learned what it means to serve our community, asked lots of great questions, and experienced everyone's favorite part of the day... getting soaked by the giant fire hoses!

Water days are one of our campers' favorite ways we keep kids active, cool, and smiling all summer long. Y Camp is where memories are made!

A huge thank you to our local firefighters for spending time with our campers and helping make this summer one they'll never forget! ❤️🚒☀️

Rural Metro Fire - Knox County
Knoxville Fire Department - TN

Week 6 of our Summer Food Program is in the books, and because of your support, 26,546 meals were served this week across 10 Grab & Go meal sites, 6 YMCA Summer Day Camps, and our community lunches at the Pilot Family YMCA Outdoor Pool.

That brings our summer total to an incredible 165,064 meals served!

From East Knox to Big Ridge, from Rutledge to communities across Union, Grainger, Blount, and Knox counties, we're intentionally reaching communities where families often live miles from the nearest full grocery store and where access to nutritious meals can be a challenge.

Thank you to our staff, volunteers, partners, donors, and supporters for helping us feed kids across East Tennessee!

We'll be closed at the Y on July 4th, but the Outdoor Pool at the Pilot Y will be your holiday celebration headquarters from 10am-4pm!

Don't want to miss your workout? Add 24-Hour Access to your membership to work out on the Pilot Y fitness floor 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Learn more at https://www.ymcaetn.org/news/24hour.

🐴🚔 Our Summer Camp kids at Beaumont had some very special visitors this week!

The Knoxville Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit stopped by with two of their incredible horses, Summitt and Knox, giving our campers a chance to get up close with these gentle giants and learn about the important role they play in serving our community.

Did you know? Summitt weighs an impressive 1,665 pounds and is known for having the best hair in the entire mounted unit! 🤩 The unit is made up of five male horses, each specially trained to work alongside KPD officers.

Our campers loved asking questions and discovering what it's like to be part of the Mounted Patrol. It's not every day you get to meet a police horse!

A huge thank you to the Knoxville Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit for taking the time to make this unforgettable visit possible. Experiences like these help our kids learn, grow, and connect with the amazing people (and animals!) who serve our community.