Sussex County YMCA opens its doors to federal workers impacted by shutdown – New Jersey Herald

HARDYSTON — As the federal government shutdown drags on, the seven branches of the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges are extending support to those impacted.

Any federal government employee who is not being paid due to the government shutdown is welcome to use the Sussex County YMCA’s facilities free of charge. The YMCA is offering federal employees a free one-month membership and waiving joiner fees, and those who already are YMCA members will have their next month’s membership fee waived.

In addition, federal workers who rely on YMCA for childcare — at its early child learning centers or before-and after-school programs — can defer payments until Feb. 28 or when the shutdown ends.

“When we see an area in our community where help is needed, we do all we can,” Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges President and CEO Richard K. Gorab said in a prepared statement. “We hope that those impacted by the government shutdown will take advantage of the mental, physical and emotional support we are here to give everyone in our community.”

Federal employees need only show their government-issued ID at the member services desk of their local Metro YMCA branch to take advantage of the offer, Gorab said. The Metro YMCA branches are: the East Orange YMCA in East Orange; Fairview Lake YMCA Camps in Stillwater; the South Mountain YMCA in Maplewood; the Sussex County YMCA in Hardyston; the Wayne YMCA in Wayne; the West Essex YMCA in Livingston; and the YMCA of Greater Bergen County in Hackensack.

The Metro YMCA and its branches are committed to helping those in need, and have always provided financial assistance to ensure everyone can access the YMCA’s facilities and program offerings. Last year, the Metro YMCA provided more than $1.5 million in financial assistance to provide adults and families access to childcare, summer camp, programs and memberships.

“We are grateful to the many individuals who donate to the YMCA every year to make this possible,” Gorab said in his statement.