Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

C.W. Avery, Central City, Galowich, Morris, Smith

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A Message to Y Members From Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Jim Watts

We want to thank you again for being a loyal member of our YMCA community.

On March 20, Governor Pritzker announced a statewide stay-at-home order aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. This order went into effect at 5 p.m. on March 21 and will continue through April 7.

This now means that our YMCA facilities will be closed and all programming will be canceled through at least April 7.

Please see below for additional updates.

Membership and Programs

At this time, we have placed all memberships on hold, and will not be processing your next draft, which was scheduled for March 28 or April 15.

Many of you have reached out and have generously indicated that you would like to continue to pay your membership fees to support the YMCA during this difficult time. Membership fees paid during our COVID-19-related closure may be considered a charitable gift, and will help to ensure that the YMCA will be here to support you and your family when this public health crisis is over.

If you would like to continue paying your monthly membership fee, please contact the Membership Director at your local branch. Although our facilities are currently closed, our staff teams will be responding to all inquiries within 24 hours.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Membership Director
Megan Payne
Email: [email protected]

Galowich Family YMCA
Membership Director
Michelle Weston
Email: [email protected]

Morris Community YMCA
Membership and Wellness Director
Jamie Nelson
Email: [email protected]

Smith Family YMCA
Membership Director
Aracely Rubio
Email: [email protected]

Spring 1 Programming 

Because our facilities will be closed through at least April 7, we will be canceling all Spring 1 programming. All Spring 1 registrations will automatically be moved to Spring 2, which is scheduled to begin on April 27. If you have questions about spring programming, please contact your local branch.

Before and After School Kid Zone Program

YMCA Kid Zone families may be eligible to receive a pro-rated system credit based on the number of days their child(ren)’s Kid Zone program did not run in March 2020 due to a Coronavirus-related school closure. System credits will be issued on a request-only basis and may be applied towards future Kid Zone payments. Requests may be made by contacting your local YMCA branch.

At this time, we will not be processing additional Kid Zone payments after April 1, until further notice.

Pint-Size Pupils 

The Y will plan to operate Pint-Size Pupils, as scheduled, when school in Plainfield District 202 begins again. To make up for lost learning days, we will be adding additional classroom time at the end of the school year.

At this time, we will not be processing payments after April 1, until further notice.

Thrive Dance Team

The Thrive Dance Team will resume activities when the YMCA reopens.

At this time, we will not be processing payments after April 1, until further notice.

We Are Stronger Together

As a non-profit, community-based organization, the YMCA relies on your membership to provide services and financial assistance for children, adults and families living in our community. We know that by working together we will get through these difficult times. And when we do, please know that the YMCA will be here to support you and your family, like we have for more than 90 years.

Because this situation is ever-changing, please watch your email, follow the Y on social media, and visit our website at www.jolietymca.org for additional updates. Please stay well and take good care of yourselves and your loved ones.

God Bless You,
Jim Watts
President and CEO
Greater Joliet Area YMCA

Live with the Y: Virtual Fitness Classes Now Available Through Zoom

This week, the Y will be expanding its virtual fitness options to include broadcasts of new classes, including STRONG, Shred and Dance Fusion, through Zoom Video Conferencing. If you are interested in participating you can follow the steps below:

  1. Go to Zoom.us on your desktop or download the Zoom app for your phone
  2. Click ‘Join a Meeting’ on the home screen
  3. Enter the meeting ID number of the scheduled class.

A full class schedule, including the meeting ID numbers, can be found below. Please note these broadcasts will not be available on replay. So, mark your calendars, and plan to join us live!

Tuesday, March 24
6 p.m.
STRONG with Marenda
Meeting ID: 334 000 849

Wednesday, March 25
8:30 a.m.
Yoga with Kim
Meeting ID: 753 326 146

Wednesday, March 25
7 p.m.
Hip Hop with with Kristen
Meeting ID: 909 805 649

Thursday, March 26
8:30 a.m.
Dance Fusion with Ligia and Kristen
Meeting ID: 540 946 947

Thursday, March 26
6 p.m.
Shred with Suzuka
Meeting ID: 643 664 033

Friday, March 27
8:30 a.m.
STRONG with Marenda
Meeting ID: 340 221 466

Saturday, March 28
9 a.m.
Mind Body Mix with Amy R
Meeting ID: 892 419 621

Saturday, March, 28
10 a.m.
Dance Fusion with Ligia and Kristen
Meeting ID: 598 848 010

Y Members are encouraged to check out replays of our Facebook Live broadcasts from the last week by clicking here.

You can also participate in online group exercise classes via Y360. Y360 is being shared with Greater Joliet Area YMCA members courtesy of our colleagues in Wichita, Houston, Charlotte, the Twin Cities and Tacoma. These free online classes will be available via YouTube for the duration of our COVID-19-related closure. To give it a try, click here.

Or, you can explore options from our partners at Life Fitness, who are offering daily workouts through their Digital Coach service. Find more details here.

March 20, 2020: IMPORTANT COVID-19 INFORMATION FOR YMCA MEMBERS

All Greater Joliet Area YMCA Facilities will be closed through at least April 7.

These are unprecedented times. COVID-19 (coronavirus) is a global pandemic and a national emergency, and nobody is certain what the next days, weeks or months hold.

Governor Pritzker has announced a statewide stay-at-home order aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. This order is expected to begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 21 and continue through Tuesday, April 7. This now means that our YMCA facilities will be closed and all programming will be canceled through at least April 7. Because this situation is ever-changing, we will share further communication as updates become available. Please take good care of yourselves and your loved ones.

As you know, this situation is ever-changing. We will share further communication as updates become available. Thank you for your continued support of the YMCA during these very uncertain times. Please take good care of yourselves and your loved ones.

Always Here For Our Community: Members Invited to Participate in Daily Prayer Calls

At the Y, we remain dedicated to providing support for the mind, body and spirit of our members and individuals living in our communities. In keeping with our mission, and to support our community during these very uncertain times, the Y will begin hosting daily prayer calls.  

Prayer calls will be held Monday-Friday at 9:30 a.m. and will be led by a member of the Y’s staff team. To participate, please follow the steps below. Please note the meeting ID number has changed from prior calls:

  1. Dial (312) 626-6799 
  2. When prompted, enter the meeting ID of 623-283-850 and then press #
  3. When prompted for a participant number, press #

If you would like to submit a message of prayer you can do so by clicking here. 

We thank you for your continued support of the Y.

Keeping You Informed: Local Food Distribution Sites


LAST UPDATED: March 18, 3:30 p.m.

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA wants to help keep the community informed about food distribution available at various schools and pantries throughout the area. A breakdown of important information can be found below. Please note: All information is subject to change. Individuals should contact their local school or food pantry officials with any additional questions.

Joliet Public Schools District 86

Joliet Public Schools District 86 will provide FREE Grab and Go Meals to any child under the age of 18 years old from Tuesday, March 17 through Friday, March 20 2020, as well as Monday, March 30, 2020. The meals will be available for curbside pick-up at District 86 Junior High Schools for all District 86 Students from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Children are encouraged to be in the car when picking up the meals. 

-Dirksen (Midland Avenue side parking lot-horseshoe, Door #18)
-Gompers (Briggs Street parking lot, Door #27)
-Hufford (Ingalls Avenue parking lot, Door #26)
-Washington (Richards Street parking lot, Door #24)

Plainfield School District 202

Free meals will be available for any child 18 years and younger.  Families will be able to come in, grab a meal and go at the following times:

• 7:30-8:30 a.m.: Breakfast and Lunch meals may be picked up

• 12-1 p.m.: Lunch meals only may be picked up

• If you are not able to pick up a meal, please call (815) 577- 4046.

Meals can be picked up at your corresponding home high school. Please enter through the assigned door.

Families should pick up meals at the locations below based on student’s home school:

Plainfield South High School 7800 W Caton Farm Road, Plainfield (Door N)
-Ridge Elementary, Charles Reed Elementary, Meadow View Elementary, Thomas Jefferson Elementary Aux Sable Middle School, Drauden Point Middle School

Plainfield North High School 12005 S 248th Street, Plainfield (Door N)
-Freedom Elementary, Eagle Pointe Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Walker’s Grove Elementary, Heritage Grove Middle School, Ira Jones Middle School

Plainfield Central High School 24120 W Fort Beggs Drive, Plainfield (Door A)
-Central Elementary, Riverview Elementary, Wesmere Elementary, Grand Prairie Elementary, Crystal Lawns Elementary, Creekside Elementary, Timber Ridge Middle School, Indian Trail Middle School,Plainfield Academy, Bonnie McBeth Learning Center and Ina Brixey Learning Center

Plainfield East High School 12001 S. Naperville Road, Plainfield (Door N)
-Eichelberger Elementary, Liberty Elementary, Creekside Elementary, and Lakewood Falls Elementary, John F. Kennedy Middle School

Spanish Version

Call (815) 577-4046 if you cannot pick up a meal.

Morris School District 54

Free lunches will be provided for ALL children in Morris (18 years of age and under).  If you would like to receive a lunch for your kids, please fill out this form.  YOU MUST FILL OUT THE FORM SEPARATELY FOR EACH CHILD YOU ARE REQUESTING A LUNCH. If you cannot fill out the form for any reason, you may call the office at (815) 942-0056 to place your order. All orders need to be in by 10 am in order to be ready for that day’s pick-up. You may order for multiple days on the form or on your phone call.

Lunch Pick-Up will be each day from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at Morris Grade School. Please come to Door 24 to pick-up the lunch. If you have any questions or additional needs, please contact your school administrator.

Fairmont School District 89

Fairmont School will be delivering breakfast and lunch on Tuesday and Thursday to the following locations:

-Fairmont School Parking Lot – 1:00 p.m.
-Corner of Princeton Ave. & Green Garden – 12:40 p.m.
-Church parking lot at Corner of Bruce & Green Garden – 1:20 p.m.
-Mt. Ebel Church Parking Lot – 1:30 p.m.

Elwood School District 203

Joliet Township High School has offered to serve the Elwood School students a free daily grab and go lunch during the five days of mandated closure, March 17-20 and March 30.  LUNCH SERVICE IS NOT AVAILABLE DURING SPRING BREAK.

Lunches are available at:
– Joliet Central High School outside the main entrance from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
-Joliet West High School outside door #6 (near the cafeteria) from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

If the state mandated closure is continued past March 31, Elwood School will offer a grab and go lunch at their home facility, however, a tentative participation count is needed.  Families are encouraged to complete the survery on the district website regarding the possible grab and go lunch program.

Troy School District 30-C

Troy CCSD 30-C will be offering both “grab and go” breakfast and lunch bags through our food service provider to all Troy community children under the age of 18.  Pickup time is from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. at the locations listed below:
–Craughwell Door #4 (front of building)
-Heritage Trail Door #5 (east side of building)
-TMS Door #3 (front of building)

Rockdale School District 84

Rockdale School District 84 is planning to provide meals for any child 18 years old and younger during the school closure, Tuesday, March 17th through Friday, March 20th and Monday, March 30th. Students will pick up both a breakfast and a lunch at the same time between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Breakfast and lunch will not be provided during Spring Break, March 23rd-27th . Both meals will be picked up at the same time each day on Connell Avenue at the crosswalk. Parents and students are encouraged to turn from Meadow Avenue and proceed north on Connell Avenue up to the crosswalk where staff will be waiting to hand both meals to parents or students. 

Laraway School District 70-C

Laraway School District will have daily breakfast and lunch pickups at the Oak Valley School (now the National Hook Up of Black Women Headquarters) for any child 18 years old and younger during the school closure.  The address is 1705 Richards Street in Joliet.

Students can pick up the current day’s lunch as well as the next day’s breakfast. The meals will be cold, grab & go options.  Families should check the Laraway website www.laraway70c.org for changes or updates.

Minooka School District 111

Meals will be provided as needed for students on Wednesday, March 18th for pick up between the hours of 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Pick up will be at MCHS South Campus: 26655 W. Eames Street / Channahon, Illinois 60410 in the front of the building. There will be staff available to assist you during the pick up time. Meal packages will consist of meals for a number of days.

Union School District 81

More information will be posted when it becomes available.

Local Food Pantries

Please call ahead

Location Name Adddress City Zip Phone Number
Second Baptist Blessing Table and Food Pantry 156 S Joliet Street Joliet 60436 815-726-3731 x 115
Blessing Bench Pantry 55 W Benton Street Joliet 60432 815-722-4800
H.E.A.L Riverwalk Food Pantry 350 North Broadway Joliet 60435 815-770-5672
Morningstar Mission 350 E Washington Street Joliet 60433 815-722-5780
Spanish Community Center* 309 N Eastern Ave Joliet 60432 815-727-3683
Sacred Heart – Family Table Soup Kitchen 329 S Ottawa Street Joliet 60436  815-722-0295
Christ Temple Food Pantry   212 Richards Street Joliet 60433 815-722-3505
Glory Tabernacle 459 N Ottawa St. Joliet 60432 815-722-1350
St. John the Baptist Food Pantry 260 Division Street Joliet 60435 815-727-1143
New Testament Fellowship 515 N Scott Joliet 60432 815-774-0662
Salvation Army Joliet 300 Third Ave Joliet 60433 815-726-4834
Warren Sharpe Community Center 454 S Joliet St Joliet 60436 815-722-2727
Daybreak Shepherd’s Table 611 E Cass Street Joliet 60432 815-774-4663
St. Patrick’s Food Pantry 710 W Marion Street Joliet 60436 815-727-4746
Will County Baptist Temple 625 McDonough Street Joliet 60436  815-726-4127
Life Spring/Iglesia Bethania Church Pantry 1000 Hacker Avenue Joliet 60432 815-436-7633
Ridgewood United Community Pantry 301 Fairbanks Ave. Joliet 60432  815-722-2383
Lively Hope Church Of God 308 N. Midland Joliet 60435 815-741-2377
Lebanon Dist. Laymen Min Soup Kitchen 402 Singleton Place Joliet 60436 815-723-9445
Forest Park Community Center 1017 Woodruff Road Joliet 60432 815-727-7898
Fellowship Bible – Joliet 122 Morris Street Joliet 60436 815-205-3005
Family Outreach Program Inc 1701 N Larkin Ave Crest Hill 60403 815-730-9567
Calvary Church Pantry 129 W. Benton Naperville 60540 630-851-7000
Plainfield Area Interfaith FP 22525 W Lockport St Plainfield 60544 815-439-8394
Green Harvest Food Pantry 25448 Ruff St Plainfield 60585 630-416-1109
St. John Lutheran Church 2650 Plainfield Road Joliet 60435 815-439-2320
Harvest Baptist Food Pantry 5315 Douglas Road Oswego 60543 630-554-3858
We Care of Romeoville 219 Arlington Drive Romeoville 60446 815-919-3233
Romeoville Community Pantry 2 Belmont Drive Romeoville 60446 815-570-9772
Love Fellowship Baptist Church 730 N. Independence Blvd Romeoville 60046 815-886-8420
Soul Food Pantry 2800 Black Road Joliet 60435 815-725-6835
Restoration Christian Church 114 Channahon Street Shorewood 60404 815-513-0228
4KIDS Sake Food Pantry 192 Lily Cache Ln. Bolingbrook 60490 630-945-1317
Lockport Fish Food Pantry 604 E 9th Street Lockport 60441 815-588-3543
First Baptist Church Pantry 800 Thornton Lockport 60441 815-838-4004
Fairmont Food Pantry 525 Barry Avenue Lockport 60441 815-723-3577
New Testament Fellowship 515 N Scott Joliet 60432 815-774-0662
We Care of Grundy County, Inc. 530 Bedford Rd. Morris 60450 815-942-6389
Saratoga Tower 1700 Newton Place Morris 60450 No number listed
Coal City Food Pantry 6805 E McArdle Road Coal City 60416 815-216-3288
Minooka Bible Church 412 N Wabena Avenue Minooka 60447 815-467-2205

*Hosting a food pantry every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its office, 309 N Eastern Ave, Joliet. Just bring an ID of any kind (student ID/state ID/Daybreak Shelter ID, etc).

Strong Families Happen Here: Keeping Kids Connected

Although all branches of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA will be closed through Tuesday, April 7, we are dedicated to supporting families who are looking to keep their kids active and engaged through this closure. That is why we are excited to announce our Keeping Kids Connected Initiative.

Each day, we will be posting new challenges and activities for kids of all ages using everyday materials families can find around their home. Be sure to follow the Y on Facebook and Pinterest to learn more and to take part in these fun activities…Let the games begin!

Day 1: At-Home Treasure Hunts

Help kids sharpen their skills ahead of Easter with exciting treasure hunt activities!  You might just find something you didn’t know was lost!

Day 2: LEGO Challenges

LEGOS are a great way for kids to use their minds and imagination and you can also use them as tools for various learning activities.

Day 3: Do-It-Yourself Musical Instruments

Let your kids explore their creative side in more ways than one! Start off with a craft activity, then make your own music!

Day 4: Around the House STEAM Activities

The worlds of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math can be explored through many everyday items in your home. Challenge kids to think outside the box.

Day 5: UNO Card Fitness

Play UNO in a brand new way by adding a fitness challenge element to gameplay! This is great way to make fitness fun and exciting for kids.

Day 6: At-Home Obstacle Courses

A fun activity that can help kids staying moving while enhancing their problem skills. Use couches, pillows, chairs, etc. as physical tasks and add puzzles or riddles to include critical thinking stages.

Day 7: Tissue/Paper Towel Roll Snake Craft Activity

Save your extra paper rolls for a fun arts and crafts project! Decorate your creation with your favorite colors and accessories.

Day 8: Cotton Swab Painting

Here’s a great way to do paintings without store-bought brushes. It can also be used as a language activity for kids learning to read.

Day 9: Toothpick and Marshmallow Construction Challenge

What do you get when you combine some extra toothpicks with a bag of marshmallows? A great engineering experiment! Check out these ideas for fun projects and mini-structures.

Day 10: Interval Training Workout

Kids can get antsy when stuck inside on a rainy day. Here’s a great set of physical activities they can channel their energy into.

Day 11: Journaling Prompts

This is an important time for children to reflect and address their emotions. Journaling is a great way to help them succeed on those fronts and here you’ll find a set of topics to get them started.

Greater Joliet Area YMCA Facebook Pages:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA

Morris Community YMCA

Smith Family YMCA

The Y also knows planning can be a tough task for families in these challenging times, so we wanted to share a basic schedule that can help keep parents and kids organized. We encourage families to make adjustments to their needs.

Daily Family Schedule

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