January 9, 2026 2:06PM
The YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, which encompasses seven counties and 13 different branches, has been awarded $10,000 from Y-USA for the Year-Round Universal Food Program.
This grant will assist in purchasing all Before and After School Academy snacks and Summer Day Camp snacks for the next year. It will also allow for proper equipment and to strengthen staffing capacity for our sustainable food programs.
On an annual basis, the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina provides food for 2,200 youth through before-and-after-school programs and summer day camp, serving over 136,000 meals and snacks throughout the year across 8+ sites in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system. The Association has also helped feed over 3,100 people through our food pantry in partnership with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina.
Our association’s food programs are built on intentional, reciprocal partnerships within the communities we serve. Instead of relying solely on charity-based aid, we intentionally involve community volunteers as co-leaders in anti-hunger efforts, making them vital contributors to creating equitable food access. As part of a larger anti-hunger coalition, volunteer engagement isn’t just an operational tactic; it's a community driven approach that emphasizes shared responsibility, local knowledge, and collective action. Volunteers support mentoring, health and wellness initiatives, and community garden projects that enhance social connection, food resilience, and intergenerational learning.
Our efforts are backed by long-standing, equity-focused partnerships with schools, community organizations, and regional food systems stakeholders. Our 12-year collaboration with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, part of Feeding America’s national network, places our work within a united movement for hunger-free communities that promotes emergency food access, advocacy, job training, and education.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Y-USA is committed to increasing access to and improving the quality of food for children. Through generous support from multiple funders, Y-USA has implemented a multi-faceted effort to increase utilization by local Ys of federal food program funding and support year-round meal programs for youth 18 and under. These partnerships have supported significant growth. Last year alone, grantee Ys served 57 million meals and snacks through these
programs.