YCS - Formerly ECRN+

12/20/2025

12/09/2025

✨ Support YMCA Families This Holiday Season! ✨

As we prepare for the holidays, many of our YMCA of Central Ohio families are in need of food gift cards to help them enjoy a warm, meaningful holiday meal.

If you’re able to give, even in a small way, food gift cards make a huge impact! We’ve added several food gift card options to our Amazon Wish List, making giving quick and easy:

🛒 Holiday Hope Amazon Wish List:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1GJ00VO3Z6BVU/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

Every contribution directly supports a local family this holiday season. Thank you so much for helping us spread warmth, comfort, and hope throughout our community. ❤️

11/25/2025

🪐🌟 What a magical night under the stars! ✨🔭

Our “Happy Hikers: Telescope Stargazing on the Canopy Walk” event at Blacklick Woods Metro Park last week was such a special evening for families, kids, and volunteers! Everyone enjoyed hiking along the beautifully lit canopy walk, while telescopes scattered throughout the area gave families the chance to explore the wonders of the night sky. Our fantastic STEM Discovery Team also shared fascinating insights about the wonders of our solar system, making the night even more magical.

Huge thanks to our amazing volunteers for helping make the night safe, smooth, and extra special! We’re so grateful to everyone who joined us and can’t wait for more adventures like this!

Want to stay in the loop for future FREE YMCA events and programs? Sign up for our mailing list here: Join our mailing list
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEzJQTL1jxH7QHZI07grWujSIIDlebF9hQCnIKpJzwCsow4g/viewform

11/23/2025

11/17/2025

DODD and Deloitte Consulting are hosting virtual town hall meetings for people living with disabilities, families, providers, and county boards.

11/15/2025

Join us online!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QGmZAWxRSgOValffUD6tfw #/registration

11/15/2025

Are you interested in a service coordination and home-visiting program that focuses on long term stability? YMCA Stable Families Service Coordinators work with families for a minimum of 4 months, up to a year, to provide support with maintaining housing, increasing income, and academic success for children.

Some examples of how they can help include: -Applying for benefits and accessing local resources.
-Developing a plan for increasing household income through academic and/or career goals.
-Helping to secure necessary household items.
-Helping you work with your school to provide the best academic results for your children.
-Establishing a budget for basic needs, home ownership or even a family trip.

Eligibility requirements are:
-You must live in Franklin county
-You must have custody of at least one child, aged 3 or older, that is enrolled in an early childhood education or learning program, Head Start, SPARK, or school (pre K - 12th grade), and in your care
-You cannot be living in a shelter or unhoused.

Click the link below to submit a Stable Families referral today!
ymcacolumbus.org/stable-form

11/12/2025

We had an incredible time at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park for our “Night at the Nature Center” event!

Families enjoyed a cozy evening filled with hot chocolate, creative crafts, and a guided Living Stream experience where kids had the chance to feed the fish. Our amazing STEM Team led exciting space-themed activities, where families made their own planets and aliens before stepping outside for a breathtaking stargazing session using a large telescope! 🔭🪐
We also had a fun raffle and a campfire with s’mores, the perfect way to end such a special evening! 🍫

✨ A huge thank you to everyone who joined us to experience the wonders of the Nature Center and make lasting memories together! 💫

Want to join us at our future fun and FREE events?!
Click the link below to join our mailing list!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEzJQTL1jxH7QHZI07grWujSIIDlebF9hQCnIKpJzwCsow4g/viewform

11/11/2025

🌟 Join Our Interactive Special Needs Planning Webinar! 🌟

We’re excited to welcome Attorney Logan Philipps of Philipps & Graham, LLC for an informative session on special needs planning.

This free webinar will cover essential topics, including:
✅ Special Needs Trusts
✅ Benefits and STABLE Accounts
✅ Guardianship and Supported Decision-Making

Learn how a comprehensive special needs plan can enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities and how to maximize saving and spending opportunities without affecting government benefit eligibility.

🗓️ Zoom link will be emailed 2 days before the event.
👉 Register today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/special-needs-planning-webinar-planning-for-the-future-tickets-1964339617675?aff=oddtdtcreator

A webinar discussing special needs trusts, benefits, STABLE Accounts, guardianship, and supported decision-making.

11/04/2025

During this time of uncertainty, we want to make sure everyone in our community has access to the food and support they need. FreshTrak makes it easy to find food resources near you by entering your zip code. The Mid-Ohio Food Collective also offers welcoming, no-cost markets throughout Central Ohio, providing a dignified shopping experience for all.

Please share these resources with anyone who could use them!

FreshTrak: https://freshtrak.com
Mid-Ohio Food Collective Markets: https://mofc.org/ways-we-help/market/ -locations

10/30/2025

Make Halloween fun for everyone! Communication boards help people share their needs, choices, and ideas using pictures or symbols. DODD has created a Halloween-themed communication board so everyone can join in the spooky fun and feel included in community activities.

Find the communication boards here: https://dodd.ohio.gov/about-us/communication/communication-boards/communication-boards

10/27/2025

Each year, the YMCA of Central Ohio comes together with the help of our incredible community to make the holidays a little brighter for families through our Holiday Hope Program. 🌟

Through this program, we’re able to support at least 30 YMCA families each year with holiday gifts, household and winter essentials, and a special holiday meal. For many families, these contributions bring joy, comfort, and relief during what can be a challenging time of year. This program wouldn’t be possible without the kindness and generosity of community members like you. ❤️ Whether you’re an individual, family, group, or business, there are a few ways you can help make a difference this season:

🎁 ADOPT A FAMILY:
Sign up to be matched with a YMCA family in need by filling out our 2025 YMCA Holiday Hope Donor Interest Form: https://forms.gle/gD2xfDNWxassza8m8
You’ll receive your family’s Wish List by mid-November at the latest, giving you plenty of time to shop and prepare for your donation.

🛍️ SHOP OUR AMAZON WISH LIST:
If adopting a family isn’t possible this year, you can still make an impact by purchasing items directly from our Amazon Wish List. Every item donated helps meet real needs within our YMCA community. https://www.amazon.com/.../ls/1GJ00VO3Z6BVU/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

💬 SPREAD THE WORD:
Please consider sharing this opportunity with friends, family, coworkers, or community groups. The more people who know, the more families we can reach!

For any questions, please reach out to familysupport@ymcacolumbus.org
Thank you for helping us continue this beloved YMCA tradition and for being part of a community that believes in giving back. Together, we can make the season brighter for so many families across Central Ohio! ✨