Strong Start: Building Strength That Lasts
The Strong Start Campaign is our 2026 Annual Giving effort, fueling what makes our community stronger from the inside out—our kids. Gifts to Strong Start provide scholarships for afterschool care and summer camp, ensuring every child has a safe place to grow, learn, and build confidence, no matter their family’s financial circumstances. When we invest in children today, we strengthen families, reinforce our community’s foundation, and create momentum for the future.
And this year, Strong Start is just the beginning—2026 holds big things ahead for the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA and the community we proudly serve.
Your gift is a step toward a stronger, more vibrant community —one donation at a time.
Strong Start for a Stronger Kingsport
Strength isn’t built alone—it’s built together. The Strong Start Campaign supports scholarships for YMCA afterschool programs and summer camp, opening doors for children to belong, thrive, and discover their potential. Your support helps remove barriers, giving families access to the experiences that shape confident, healthy, and connected kids. As we look ahead to 2026, Strong Start lays the groundwork for bold growth and exciting new opportunities at the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA—strengthening our community today and preparing for what’s next.
Every dollar donated to the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA stays in our region for a lasting impact in our community. We make giving easy! With flexible ways to give your tax-deductible support, you can make a difference in the Y Family.
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AFTERSCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS & PROGRAMS
CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIPS
The Kingsport Family YMCA opened its doors to the children of Kingsport for afterschool care in 1983. 40 years ago, the Y operated out of one building in the downtown area. The Y Afterschool now operates on-site at 19 schools within three systems: Kingsport City, Sullivan County, and Hawkins County. On-site programs eliminate the need for additional transportation and ensures that the children are being cared for in their own neighborhood, with many walking distance to their school. This fills a major need for families as many lack reliable transportation to pick their children up after care.
We serve kids developing with and without disabilities and allow them learning opportunities. Kids receive homework assistance, opportunities for reading and language improvement, and we look for creative ways to engage the children in learning and enrichment activities.
YMCA FEEDING PROGRAM
YMCA FEEDING PROGRAM
It is reported that 1 in 4 children in our region are considered to have a food insecurity. In an effort to fill this gap, our feeding program feeds the children in our 21 Afterschool sites and 8 Outreach Sites where the need is great. The feeding program serves children a 5-component meal daily that follows the USDA regulations, Monday-Friday all year long.
These meals aid in bridging the gap between an early school lunch and the next morning’s breakfast. Part of this expansion includes opening a second kitchen at our Rogersville, YMCA Brighter Horizons Youth Center site. The new kitchen will serve 9 sites in the Hawkins County region.
SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS
SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS
The Y has been offering summer camp to local families since 1984. In 2022, The Kingsport Family YMCA served approximately 350 local youth daily in three Summer Camp Programs.
The YMCA Summer Camp Program operates on-site at five school locations, serving rising first through eighth grade campers, in Hawkins County, Sullivan County and Washington County.
A qualified, DOE safety and awareness licensed staff leads the campers in swimming, field trips, group games such as disc golf, crafts, and skill activities. The program goal is to offer the campers a safe place to be where they can make lasting memories and grow in confidence.
A contribution to the YMCA Annual Giving Campaign can provide a lifetime of memories.
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