Summer Day Camp 2018

WickedLocal Plymouth / Old Colony Memorial

Health care workers and first responders are battling the spread of COVID-19 on the front lines. Coming face-to-face with the virus on a daily basis puts these individuals, and their families, at high risk.

Two weeks ago, six Old Colony Y sites — including Plymouth — were chosen by the Department of Early Education and Care to provide exempt emergency child care programs. Per the request
of Gov. Charlie Baker’s office, these sites offer safe care to the children of health care workers, first responders, other essential personnel and vulnerable populations.

“They don’t have the option to work from home or to practice social distancing,” said Derek Paiva, vice president of the Old Colony YMCA’s Plymouth Branch. “So while they’re taking care of us, the least we could do is find even the smallest way to take care of them.”

“It’s a privilege to provide care for these families,” said Paiva. “They’re the ones keeping us safe and keeping our community going. We feel a responsibility to do our part and step up when and where we can.”

Right now, the program is caring for about 20 children per day, and taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of each child, family and staff member. In addition to providing support during the crisis, when the Y is able to re-open, they are giving health care workers and first responders, and their families, two free months of membership.

“This applies to current members and future members,” said Paiva. “We know that once this is all over, people will need a place to be active and healthy and gain a new sense of community. The Y is that place.”

To learn more about this program, visit http://oldcolonyymca.org/together and fill out a quick form to express interest. Once the Y re-opens, health care workers and first responders will simply need to visit an Old Colony Y branch and show their workplace badge, ID or other documentation of their field.