Valley Shore YMCA In Westbrook Open To All Local Residents Without Power

From the Valley Shore YMCA:

There are times when a community organization really gets to show its true colors. This week has been that time for the Valley-Shore YMCA, located in Westbrook. Since Wednesday morning, the YMCA has opened its doors to local residents without power; offering steaming hot showers, internet access and charging stations for phones, laptops and tablets. To top it off, a piping hot coffee is available for free in the lobby.

"It's a real lifesaver," said Ella McBride, of Clinton. She stopped by the Y on Thursday for the second day in a row with her children Martin, 15, and Maggie, 13. "Coming here was really a treat. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. Thank you so much for letting us come here!"

Serving the community during hard times is part of the mission of the Y. During Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011, hundreds of residents converged on the Y for the same reasons as this week.

"If you’ve been out of power for three days, taking a hot shower is really, really refreshing," said Stacey McGee, Director of Healthy Living. "We're just proud we have the ability to offer this service to our neighbors and community members."

The Valley-Shore YMCA serves 8,000 children and adults along the shoreline area at our 40,000-square-foot facility. Each year, the Valley-Shore YMCA contributes more than $175,000 in scholarships and financial assistance to needy families in the area. We have two, six-lane swimming pools and a full-sized gymnasium and fitness center.