To be recognized with the Bernon Family Branch Red Triangle Award from the Hockomock Area YMCA means the world to everyone here at the Milford Youth Center. This honor isn’t just a reflection of our staff’s hard work, but a celebration of our entire community, which shows up every day to support our local youth. It is a powerful reminder of how much we can achieve when we refuse to work in isolation.
What started as onsite wellness programming, summer meals, and healthy after-school snacks grew into something far more meaningful when our community needed it most. During the deep uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, when stability was incredibly hard to find, we joined forces with the YMCA to open our doors for emergency childcare and remote learning. Together, we built a safe, structured environment where students could keep up with their education while having their basic needs met. Since then, food access has remained a cornerstone of what we do.
From the Summer Meal Program launched in 2016 to today’s daily after-school meals, evening dinners, monthly pop-up food pantries, and back-to-school backpack drives, this partnership has allowed us to foster real dignity, stability, and a sense of true belonging for every kid who walks through our doors.
During the acceptance, our Youth Center Director, Jen Ward, gave a heartfelt speech that perfectly captured what makes this bond so vital. She spoke passionately about how incredible the Hockomock YMCA has been to us, noting that their willingness to collaborate is what allows all of us to better meet the changing needs of our neighborhood together. She reminded everyone that at its core, this partnership is rooted in a shared belief that every young person deserves to be seen, supported, and given the opportunity to thrive.
We have always championed the philosophy to “work smarter, not harder,” and this partnership is the ultimate reflection of that mindset. By blending our strengths with the Hockomock YMCA, sharing resources, and combining our efforts, we have been able to dramatically expand our impact while keeping our focus right where it belongs, on the kids. We are incredibly grateful to YMCA for helping us prove that when we cooperate rather than compete, we can build a brighter future for Milford efficiently and effectively.