VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - When Governor Ralph Northam announced schools would close for the rest of the school year, Linda Strain didn’t know what she was going to do with her 9-year-old.
“I’m a single mom, so what’s that going to do to my job? How can I do both?” said Strain.
She needs to care for her daughter Bella and pay the mortgage.
“Am I going to lose my house?” she asks.
She says the Mt. Trashmore Family YMCA came to her rescue and gave Bella a safe place to stay while she’s at work.
Her daughter Bella attends Salem Elementary.
“I have my Chromebook over there, and I log onto the network and use that for my schoolwork," Bella adds.
The non-profit offers emergency child care services for essential workers.
“It’s been those first responders, EVMS, police, fire that are out there working every day,” says Adam Kahrl, the Chief Operating Officer with the YMCA of South Hampton Roads.
To help continue to care for children of these workers, Kahrl says donations that come in during #GivingTuesdayNow are necessary. He says the community's financial support is what allows them to offer some families discounted rates and grants.
“There is always somebody that's going to be impacted more than you have, so every little bit makes a difference,” Kahrl adds.
Strain says this service gives her a peace of mind.
“It gives me comfort when I’m at work because I know she’s safe.”
Donations that come in on #GivingTuesdayNow will also go towards food drives to support the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and Eastern Shore plus blood drives with the American Red Cross.
Click here to donate.
