Y WEE CARE PROJECT

In response to COVID-19, the Rotary Club of Owensboro partnered with the Owensboro Family YMCA to enable the reopening of the YMCA’s Y Wee Care short term supervised child care program in compliance with CDC and Commonwealth of Kentucky guidelines.

Y Wee Care is a free service providing child care for Owensboro Family YMCA members while they exercise. Children six weeks to 10 years of age are eligible for this service and can stay up to two hours. The program has been provided by the Owensboro Family YMCA for years, but was discontinued in April 2020 to accommodate the establishment and expansion of a child day care service for emergency and essential workers.

The YMCA was ready to resume Y Wee Care this fall, but needed assistance repurposing another space for that use.  Owensboro Rotary took on the challenge.  The project was jointly funded by the club’s foundation, a Rotary District 6710 matching grant, and the YMCA. The volunteer involvement of Rotarians kept the cost low and was an important part of making the project happen.