ROCHESTER, NY – The building at 53 Lewis Street has served the Marketview Heights community for decades in various roles, but one thing has never changed: it’s there for its neighbors. That stance continues to be true in its current capacity with the YMCA of Greater Rochester hosting and collaborating with like-minded organizations to bring free programming serving youth through seniors.
“The YMCA of Greater Rochester has been serving community for more than 170 years,” said Ernie Lamour, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Rochester. “During our time, what the Y’s ‘traditional services’ are have changed to meet the growing needs of the communities we serve. Being able to adapt to meet those needs has been crucial.”
Since 2001, the YMCA of Greater Rochester has been a part of the neighborhood, providing childcare services that were needed. Just as the needs of our community evolve, so do the services we offer. In 2022, the Y purchased the building, opening the first of our Neighborhood Centers.
Neighborhood Centers serve as community connectors, putting people in the community we serve in touch with the services they need through Y programming and purposeful partnerships. One of the most impactful partnerships here at Lewis Street is with Foodlink.
"Foodlink's food bank and community kitchen are proud to partner with the Lewis Street YMCA Neighborhood Center by providing both nutritious meals and a well-stocked food pantry—especially during this time of heightened need,” said Julia Tedesco, President & CEO of Foodlink. "Thanks to this collaboration, we’ve delivered 22,000 pounds of food and served 7,000 meals over the past year — which has made a significant impact on families struggling to make ends meet while grocery prices remain high.”
Those meals in 2024 supported youth daily in after school and summer programming as well as our congregate meals for all ages served Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This past fall, we opened our Food Pantry, again in partnership with Foodlink. In the first six months of being opened, the food pantry had hundreds of visits, with the most coming in during the holiday seasons.
“We are serving more of our neighbors than ever before here at our Lewis Street YMCA Neighborhood Center,” said George Warren, Vice President of Urban Services, YMCA of Greater Rochester. “Much of what is happening here is a result of what the community is looking for. We’re excited to keep working alongside our community and incredible partner organizations to continue to grow our programming.”
In just the last year, the Y has been able to serve more people at the Lewis Street YMCA Neighborhood Center with nearly 11,000 visits. Programming has grown to include virtual wellness visits with UR Medicine, active older adult offerings to exercise body and mind, a safe place after school for school age children, and dedicated adult recreational and life skills activities – all free for the community. The Lewis Street YMCA Neighborhood Center, including the food pantry, is open 8 am-8 pm, Monday-Friday.
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