Armed Services of YMCA of the USA, Hampton Roads branch
Rating: 4.88 stars 17 reviews
Issues: Human Services, Sports
Location: 1465 Lakeside Rd Virginia Beach VA 23455 USA
Mission:
Founded in November 1889. The mission of the Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads is to improve quality of life for junior enlisted military personnel and their families through values oriented, social, recreational, personal development, crisis prevention, deployment separation, and child care programs. This branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA began as the Army YMCA on Fort Monroe. This ASY like all Ys help people develop values and behavior that are consistent with Christian principles. Ys are for people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages and incomes. No one is turned away for inability to pay. YMCAs’ strength is in the people they bring together.
In our ASY, we have a volunteer board of management which sets policy for its executive, who manages the operation with full-time and part-time staff and volunteer leaders. The ASYMCAHR meets the local military community needs through organized activities called programs. In this ASYMCA our programs include child care, military community center based activities, emergency food support, Operations Hero, support to ?Family Readiness Groups, and weekly free bread. These programs and activities are tools for building the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
Geographic areas served:
Hampton Roads, VA
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Community Reviews
7 people found this review helpful
Being the wife of a disabled Vietnam veteran, I learned of the "Bread Program during this time of hardship for my family and others. I wasn't sure if our family qualified to participate in the program, and was pleased to learn that we did. Convincing my husband to participate was not easy; but on our first and subsequent visits we were greeted by name and felt very welcomed by the volunteers at the door.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
their networking techniques in getting the word out about available programs and events available to military families.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
The courteous and welcoming manner that they receive participants.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Very considerate, gracious, and welcoming
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009-11-01
1 person found this review helpful
This organization has helped many military families, having the bread program that helps each family stretch thier monthly food buget. They also have provided other fun programs that help us get out of the house, meet new people and stay healthy.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Saving money and meeting new people
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
speard the word more
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Meeting new people and saving money
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
helpful and happy
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Help so many other families
Ways to make it better...
i knew about it earlier.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
n/a
One thing I'd also say is that...
n/a
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009-8-01
4 people found this review helpful
To Whom It May Concern: We would like to take a minute to thank the Armed Services YMCA for all of the things they do to help out military families. Over the past year we have benefitted from a variety of programs that have not only helped us financially but also with our families health. We have been very active in the Bread Day program not only benefitting from it but volunteering time to help set-up and give-out. Without receiving the bread from Armed Services YMCA our food dollar would not stretch as far as it does. The free bread, specialty breads, chicken, and pastries allow our family to spend more money on meats, vegetables, and keep our pantry stocked a little better than without it. The aerobics programs offered, provides my family with a way to stay healthy and meet new people. Civilian gyms are expensive and intimidating. The programs available at the Armed Services YMCA are very inviting, comfortable, and most of all affordable. The staff is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. A side benefit of these programs is the social networking that happens in these classes where military families that would normally never meet end up meeting, talking, and even becoming friends. Armed Services YMCA has provided space for our ship’s Family Readiness Group to conduct their monthly meetings. Renting a hall is quite expensive and with the FRG being a non-profit group that survives strictly of off donations an inexpensive or free meeting place is a necessity for the Group to remain intact and effective. In short the services that the Armed Services YMCA provides are not only needed they are indispensible. Please continue with your great works that help make life just a little better for military families. Sincerely, Chuck and Heidi Bigger
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
meeting new people
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
N/A
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
networking
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
very friendly, supportive
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
help many military families world wide
Ways to make it better...
if i knew about this wonderful program sooner
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
n/A
One thing I'd also say is that...
n/a
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010-3-01
7 people found this review helpful
This program was a lifesaver for my children and myself. I was new to the area April 2007. I had a newborn and 2y/o and what can I do. This program helps bring at-home-moms and their children together providing activities to join in. They also provide childcare so the moms bring things they have a hard time doing at home. What's really great is they also incorporate aerobics classes so you can get back in shape without worry about where to bring your children. We also went on fieldtrips to local area places which helped me on how to get around to places that are child-friendly.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
helping others.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
?
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
aerobics, making life longs friends, learning the area.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
warm hearted, excellent.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
reach to many more families.
Ways to make it better...
brought in different professionals and how they got to where they are.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
getting the donations for services, stated when you decide to attend.
One thing I'd also say is that...
keep up the good work.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2008-8-01
4 people found this review helpful
I sent two of my children to the daycare at ASYMCA. The wonderful staff there took the time to get to know my children and our family. They made my children feel special. They also provided bread through the bread program. The bread was fresh and definitely helped feed our family of five.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
their daycare program and their bread program.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the friendly and helpful staff.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
professional, friendly and kind.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
help so many more people. It could pay the wonderful staff more money to improve their lives too.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
One time
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009-9-01
4 people found this review helpful
Lots of programs for families to get out and either enjoy some time away from the children, or to get out and enjoy activities for everyone. One program even gives Dad a chance to enjoy some quality time with his daughter(s). They're always thinking to provide assistance or fun programs for military families!
More Feedback
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
The great staff and their willingness to go beyond the call of duty to help military families
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Very caring. The staff gives it their all to make sure military families are served. Most of the staff have military experience or come from military families, so they know the issues facing military families. They are in touch with their community.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Expand beyond its breat program and be the greatest thing since sliced bread itself!
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009-11-01
5 people found this review helpful
The bread program is great. It helps lots of families and the people who work with the program are really helpfully and friendly with the exception of the person who works at fort story everyone else is just great.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the bread program.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
get a different person at fort story.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
working with the people.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
really friendly and helpful.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
help a lot of people.
Ways to make it better...
I had never had to deal with the person at fort story.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
the person at fort story.
One thing I'd also say is that...
fire the person at fort story.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010-1-01
4 people found this review helpful
My family was amazed that there was a service that helped families with bread and other goodies this is great.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Thank You for providing the many different services the classes the tot time and the bread services.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010-3-01
4 people found this review helpful
The volunteers working at the event were friendly and very helpful. The waiting area was comfortable. There was some disorganization in the way the line was formed but it was OK as there was more than enough items to go around.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
their service to the Hampton Roads military community
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
get more volunteers from the base involved with staging and advertising this wonderful service.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the friendliness of the staff and volunteers.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
familiar with the struggle of military families trying to make ends meet in a tough economy.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Hold more events providing grains and other pantry goods to the community.
Ways to make it better...
the event could have been held on the base as opposed to in military housing.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
decreasing donations from business due to the tough economy.
One thing I'd also say is that...
I thank God for all the volunteers who help the staff take care of the folks on the front lines making a difference for our great country.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
One time
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009-6-01
4 people found this review helpful
The ASYMCA has been an amazing experience. I found a wonder group of women who understand what it means to be a military wife. My daughter has enjoyed making friends and having her own playgroup. I have been able to lose weight in the aerobics classes and have an hour of "me" time. The classes are non-threatening and everyone is "normal" instead of super fit like at many gyms. The ASYMCA is a wonderful service and I would defiantly recommend the programs to anyone!
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
that my daughter is interacting with other children and I have been able to lose weight.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
getting to know other women that are in the same position as me. Being a military spouse carries a unique set of issues and the employees of the ASYMCA are very encouraging and understanding.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
wonderful people! They are kind, encouraging, and understanding.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
improve the facility instead of having to share with Lincoln Military Housing.
Ways to make it better...
I can not think of anything bad about the ASYMCA and it's staff!
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
funding and enrollment.
One thing I'd also say is that...
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010-3-01