YMCA of Saskatoon Blackstrap Day Camp

Day of Caring^® is a partnership between United Way of Saskatoon and Area, business and labour groups, local sponsors and United Way funded agencies and programs. This event is an opportunity for participants to experience the rewards of volunteerism, demonstrating what a difference they can make in our community by working together.

In 2016, the YMCA of Saskatoon was fortunate enough to have three separate groups donate their time and energy to improving our facilities and helping in our mission of Building Healthy Communities.

On Monday, May 16, a team of volunteers from the University Heights branch of RBC came out to the YMCA Sutherland Childcare Centre to help spruce up the playground for the kids.

The team painted and stained benches and play structures, re-did some brick pathway, cleaned up under the hedges and prepared a flowerbed.

On Tuesday, June 14 a group of workers from the Cargill facility in Clavet descended in force on the same playground and refurbished a sandbox area, chopped down about 80 feet of overgrown hedges in preparation for a new fence, cleanded around bushes, expanded the paved walkway at the street and installed a basement window well. Cargill will also be footing the bill for a new chainlink fence to keep the kids safe - a gesture for which we can't thank them enough!

On Wednesday, June 15 the staff from the RBC branch at Avenue C and Circle Drive gave their time and energy to the playground behind the downtown YMCA building, preparing flowerbeds and installing new landscaping ties.

Were the YMCA to pay for the labour involved in all these projects, we would be able to sponsor far fewer children and families for our programs like Before and After School Care, summer camps and swimming lessons. Our great corporate partners have had a very real impact on improving our community, and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts!