Here's how YMCA of Greenville Food Program delivered 200 Christmas gifts to needy children
For Christmas, some children might ask Santa for stuffed animals, a remote-controlled car, or the latest video game. For children who are part of the YMCA of Greenville's Food Program, many of their wishes stem from a need not only for themselves but for their family and pets.
Diana Watson, senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer at the YMCA of Greenville, runs the Y Food Program and helps organize Christmas deliveries to dozens of children across Greenville. On a phone call with the Greenville News and Amanda Long, senior account director with the Hughes Agency, Watson listed off various gift wishes from underserved children in the area.
Some of the wishes were for basketballs, bicycles and Barbie dolls. Other wishes were for basic needs, like bedding, socks, underwear or a coat ― unexpected requests from a child.
"One of the most unusual items that was asked for was food for a child's bearded dragon, to a child who asked for a sewing machine," Watson said. "You know, children who have very heartfelt asks, saying 'We just wish for a home of our own.' And these are children who live in a motel room, so their wish is a permanent home."
Many struggling families have indicated to Watson that Greenville County's cost of living has gone up so much that they have found themselves stretched to afford housing and food for their families, as well as utilities and other essentials. The Y has seen an increase in families with three or four children living in motel rooms.
"And what they've told us is that they are simply not making ends meet," Watson said. "Many of them are working and just really having to struggle to pay for the basic needs for their families. We feel that our program does provide that assistance in terms of food resources to them. We're here to serve with very few questions asked because to me if somebody indicates a need around hunger, the YMCA of Greenville is there to answer the call."
How YMCA stepped up to fill a community need during pandemic
In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Y was contacted by Greenville County Schools, who expressed concern over the many children and families impacted by displacement and food insecurity, according to Long.
"We really believed it was an emergency response at the time to serve children living in motel rooms who were homeless because they didn't have a fixed address," Watson said. "The school district indicated they (the children) would really struggle to receive food on a consistent basis."
In the summer of 2020, the Y started the Y Food Program and began delivering boxes and bags of food to families living at the motels. Since then, the program has continued to grow and evolve, working with several local schools to deliver weekend backpack meals. It also works with Greenville's Veterans Affairs Clinic to serve veterans.
The Y raises money for the food through donations, running solely on the generosity of the community. Food is purchased every week.
In 2023, the Y delivered more than 170,000 pounds of food, making up roughly 100,000 meals. The program feeds 1,300 people a month. Nearly 1,000 of them are children.
"All of this is really possible because of the volunteers who help us pack and deliver the food every week," Watson said. "We've had more than 5,744 volunteer hours toward this program this year as well."
According to Long, the Y Food program delivers food every week across Greenville County to the following areas:
∎ Front Porch Housing
∎ Greenville Inn and Suites
∎ Travelers Inn
∎ Woodspring Suites on Chalmers Road
∎ Super Lodge Motel
∎ Veterans Affairs
∎ Fifteen area schools and child development centers receive either weekly grocery bags for families of children who have indicated food insecurity, or weekend backpack bags for children to take home so they have food they need when school is not in session.
Y food program gives out gifts in time for the holidays
Starting in October, the Y includes Christmas wish list forms in the food bags they deliver. The form asks individuals and families what they would like for the holidays, whether it be clothes they need or toys their children want.
On Friday, Dec. 15, members of the Y Food program gathered at 9 a.m. at the YMCA's Metro Office located at 723 Cleveland St. to prepare for their Christmas gift run. Routes, times, and locations were discussed. A team effort was made to load food bags and gifts into vehicles.
Stops were made at Front Porch Housing and Greenville Inn and Suites, two of the nine routes planned for the day. Bags were dropped off at lobbies for recipients to walk down and collect or placed at the front doors of the motel units where they resided.
Volunteers were more than happy to spread holiday cheer as they worked. Scot Baddley, 58, president and CEO of YMCA of Greenville, said the lifelong friends he has made while being involved are like family.
"People just seem to draw together in a powerful way, and you can't help but make friends with them because you just enjoy being around, hearing their perspective and seeing them get excited about what we're doing to help in identifying other needs," he said. "This will be a never-ending job because there's always going to be people who need help."
This year, the program served 240 children in the area ― a number Watson said is triple the number of children served last year. She anticipates this number to grow in years to come and shares a Christmas message to the families who will be receiving food and presents.
"We wish these families a very Merry Christmas. We want them to know that the Y is here, that we're their friends, that we're part of the community," Watson said. "When they turn to us for help, whether it's for fun things at Christmas or food relief throughout the year, we are here and ready to respond."
Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville YMCA Food Program grants holiday wishes to children in need.
