Your Health and Safety is Our Priority.

These are challenging times for many of us and we have come together as a community to help those who need it. Even through these uncertain times, we have had over 5,000 members continue to be cause-driven partners and chose to #StayWithUs.  Through your continued support, and the commitment of our staff, we have helped fill in the gaps to meet the needs of our community.

  • WE PARTNERED WITH THE GREATER KINGSPORT YMCA TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL CHILDCARE FOR VITAL FIRST RESPONDERS
  • WE MADE WELLNESS CALLS TO OUR ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS
  • WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH OVER 10,000 PEOPLE WITH OUR FACEBOOK POSTS ON FAMILY ACTIVITIES, AT HOME WORKOUTS, AND HEALTHY MEALS
  • WE UTILIZED OUR CLOSURE PERIOD TO COMPLETE NEARLY $40,000 IN FACILITY UPDATES
  • WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP OUR Y STAFF, OUR FAMILY, FULLY ENTACT AND PAID THE ENTIRE CLOSURE

As we navigate through this pandemic, our team continues to put the needs, health, and safety of our members and staff at the forefront of our decision-making process. As we prepare to reopen May 6th, we want to make you aware of some changes to our operation procedures and the expectations of our staff and members.

MAINTAINING A HEALTHY AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT

Exercise is essential to overall health and well-being and we will be opening our facility, in a limited capacity, to offer our members the opportunity to be active and healthy while practicing the necessary social distancing.  We are thoroughly cleaning our facility on a daily basis and will follow a strict cleaning schedule every two hours continuing to provide a safe environment. We have added additional hand sanitizing stations and will require our members to clean ALL equipment BEFORE and AFTER use in all areas.

Following CDC, Tennessee, and Sullivan County Health District guidelines, we are requiring all members and staff entering the facility to complete a waiver, screening questionnaire, and to wash or sanitize their hands. To align with social distancing guidelines, we will have a capacity limit for our facility and clearly marked areas that members are allowed to use.

In accordance with Governor Lee’s Tennessee Pledge, during the first phase of our reopening, our showers, swimming pools, steam rooms, saunas, whirlpools, common spaces, group exercise classes, stay & play, kids gym and gymnasium will be unavailable. We encourage our members to wear a face mask while in our facility and staff will be required to wear face masks.  We also suggest that members bring a drink from home as water fountains, bottle fill-up stations, and coffee will not be available.

OPPORTUNITIES TO STAY HOME AND STAY ACTIVE

As we continue to make plans to bring back your favorite group exercise classes, when it is safe for our members, we are providing ways for you to stay active and healthy at home. On-demand exercise classes can be accessed through the Y360 YouTube Channel, Les Mills, which provides over 95 videos across 8 categories, as well as access to a 60 day free trial of Mossa Move.  We have also partnered with Food City to provide access to registered dietician resources here.

Take care, be safe, stay healthy and God Bless!

Yours in Health,

Rick Matthews
President and CEO
YMCA of Bristol