Community Impact
The YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids community programs provide innovative, evidence-based programs and services that improve the health and wellness of our community. Each of the programs below are run through donations/grants. These programs would not be possible without the help of our community.
Cooking Matters
Empowers families with the skills, knowledge and confidence to make healthy and affordable meals.
Cook it Up
Helps students learn lifelong skills of basic nutrition concepts, food and kitchen safety, and how to prepare healthy meals and snacks at home.
Community Group Fitness
Engages families where they work, live, learn and play and supports families as they make healthy lifestyle changes with group fitness.
Financial Assistance
An income based program for families to join the YMCA at a price that works best for them.
Garden Education
Equips families with the knowledge to plant, harvest, and eat healthier, more nutrient rich food.
Healthy U
Designed to inspire children to become physically active and make better nutrition choices, and takes place during after school hours.
Healthy Corner Stores
Works with corner stores in low food access neighborhoods by providing refrigeration, shelving, and marketing materials that promote the sale of fresh produce
Impact After School Program
Teens explore talents and interests while gaining leadership skills and confidence in a safe, nurturing atmosphere through homework help, physical activity, volunteer activities, community service projects, and mentoring with Visser Family YMCA families.
Livestrong
Offers adult cancer survivors the opportunity to workout in a safe, supportive environment and reclaim their health while building relationships with other survivors.
LOOP After School Program
The YMCA partners with Grand Rapids Public Schools to offer the LOOP program, which provides elementary and middle school students a safe, engaging place to grow both individually and academically.
Michigan Harvest of the Month
Educates residents at stores in neighborhoods throughout West Michigan by providing in-store food demonstrations, taste testing, recipe cards and signage.
Nutrition in Action
Encourages healthy eating habits and promotes physical activity to SNAP-Ed eligible children, providing hands-on and interactive ways to build lifelong skills.
Pedaling for Parkinson's
Free group fitness class for those living with Parkinson's disease. Research has shown that program participants had improvement in their quality of life and also in the severity of their Parkinson’s symptoms.
Safety Around Water
The YMCA’s Safety Around Water program keeps swimming fun while teaching essential water safety skills, including how personal water safety and skills to help others in the water.
Summer Teen Leadership Academy
Participants explore career paths and post-secondary options through workplace tours, guest speakers, and project-based learning.
Ted Rasberry Youth League
Provides kids the opportunity to play baseball and softball at neighborhood ballparks. Children are provided equipment and offered free meals to all families on game nights.
Veggie Van
A year round mobile farmers market that makes weekly stops in neighborhoods throughout Grand Rapids and Muskegon to distribute fresh, low cost produce where access to affordable fresh food is limited.
Youth & Government
Students learn YMCA core values, while also navigating the world of politics (local, state, national, and international) with peers.
