BELLOWS FALLS — Meeting Waters YMCA will join over 10,000 other organizations nationwide in hosting Lights on Afterschool! celebrations on Thursday, Oct. 23.
Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool! is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities.
Meeting Waters YMCA will host celebrations at each of its seven Y-ASPIRE sites: Brattleboro's Green Street School, Oak Grove School and Academy School; Dummerston School, Putney Central School, Rockingham Central School, and Walpole Primary School.
All seven Lights On Afterschool! events are free and run from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. During the events, Y-ASPIRE participants will lead an activity and showcase recent projects that they've accomplished in the program.
The events also will provide education, community, and business leaders a chance to hear about the critical role the regional Y's Y-ASPIRE, Snow Day, and Y Day Camp programs play in providing hundreds of children with enriching out-of-school activities while supporting working parents and the companies that employ them.
According to Meeting Waters YMCA Executive Director Steve Fortier, Lights On Afterschool! is the Y's chance to showcase its programs' contributions to the community.
“High-quality, well-designed out-of-school programs not only have a positive impact on the kids they serve, they also support families and strengthen local economies. Through our programs, more than 500 parents can contribute to their workplace knowing that their kids are safe, having fun, and developing important skills in the 'out-of-school' time,” Fortier said.