Judi Christy, the director of marketing/communication at the Akron Area YMCA, details lessons she’s learned on the power of volunteering in community rec.
The first time I volunteered without the promise of a paycheck, a pat on the back or a gold star in my grade book, I was in high school. There were no service hour requirements. The spark came years earlier from my Girl Scout leader, who once took us to a local nursing home.
As a kid who found comfort in the scent of mothballs and Vicks VapoRub, I felt strangely at home there. My parents — about a decade older than most of my friends’ folks — made me feel like I should start preparing for the BINGO circuit early, just in case. So, once a week I’d stop by the nursing home to chat with residents, hang with my favorites and temporarily forget my preoccupation with Dark Shadows and the ever-mysterious Barnabas Collins.
Volunteering made me feel good — like, really good. So, I kept doing it. Through college, young adulthood, and parenting I sought out soup kitchens, shelters and donation drives. That feel-good adrenaline rush of helping never faded. Somewhere along the way, I found myself directing a middle school play, managing local political campaigns and leading a Girl Scout troop. I hoped — and succeeded with my own children — to pass on that same joy of service that first hooked me.
Then, years later, I applied for a position at the YMCA.
Coming from the arts world, I was no stranger to nonprofit life. Once I confirmed that khakis and Crocs weren’t required uniforms, I took the job as director of marketing for the Akron Area YMCA at a salary that nearly qualified as volunteer work. (Kidding. Kind of.)
The YMCA’s legacy began in 1844 when George Williams — a 22-year-old from London — and 11 volunteers created a safe refuge for young men seeking purpose and spiritual well-being. Fast-forward to today, and the Y’s mission has expanded beautifully. It’s now a welcoming, affirming place for individuals of all genders, identities, beliefs and backgrounds.
But one thing hasn’t changed — the spirit of volunteerism is alive and well.
From board members and basketball coaches to cupcake bakers and garden tenders, volunteers are essential to the Y’s mission. Staff carry the load of programming, budgets and building maintenance. But they also need a community of helpers — parents, teens, active older adults — who want to turn their passions into purpose.
Communities grow stronger when people feel invited to contribute. The neighbor you greet at the front desk might secretly be a future 5K route marshal. The retired chess champion might be the perfect mentor for a teen. And let’s be honest, folding towels might be the digital detox some teens didn’t know they needed.
Volunteering doesn’t just benefit the Y. It boosts mental health, reduces stress and improves well-being, especially for adults over 60. So don’t be afraid to ask for help and offer it in return.
Invite them in.
Get them connected.
And remind them the Y isn’t just a place to work out.
It’s a place to work in — on shared purpose, meaningful community and the joy that comes from giving back.
