Bayview YMCA’s Annual Turkey Giveaway and Family Event
“I’m really looking forward to continuing to create a space and place in our District 10 and Bayview Hunters Point community that allows people to feel like they belong with our organization and community. Our annual event is an opportunity to build bridges and reach across the table around cross-cultural, age, and gender connections that speaks to who we are as individuals and allows us to be able to build community with each other. This space is nothing but love and I believe that really speaks to our 2030 Vision.” –Tacing Parker, Senior Executive Director of Bayview Hunters Point YMCA, YMCA of Greater San Francisco
A Family Reunion
Between a sea of brown bags filled to the brim with fresh groceries and a lively room across the hall where community volunteers are packing fall-colored goodie bags with fun knickknacks, a gym with round dining tables decorated in touches of gold and orange marking a yearly celebration awaited its guests a few doors down.
Last week, we gathered at Bayview Hunters Point YMCA’s annual turkey giveaway and family event. Running on its 11th year, this heartwarming holiday space is one in which staff, volunteers, community members, and youth and their families would meet over delicious food, vibrational music, and engaging activities.
Building Community Together
From the early morning to late evening shifts, Y staff and volunteers as well as Waymo, Brown & Cadwell, MWH Webcor, and Phi Beta Sigma volunteers provided support in bagging 250 groceries and turkeys given out to community members after everyone enjoyed a catered dinner by Dixon Delights, which was supported by our Y Primed & Prepped staff and youth.
Giving Back
Many things happened throughout the event that evening such as youth conducting interviews for their media and our very own Syren Jordan, Events Operations Manager, meeting a couple of people who were previously attendees who wanted to support this year by being volunteers.
“Waymo and the Bayview Hunters Point YMCA have worked together for many years and have built a strong partnership together including an annual tradition of Waymo volunteering at the Thanksgiving dinner. The work of the Y is so incredibly important to the city and to all community members. It’s an honor to be here and help the Y support their communities and make sure everyone has a hearty meal, a community to celebrate with, and know they’re loved.” –Rachel Kamen, Public Affairs, Waymo
See You Next Year!
Thank you to everyone who participated with us and an extra special thanks to our Bayview Team, Anastasia Gordon, Angela Scott, and Demetrius Durham, as well as Mission Advancement’s Malcolm Stanley for putting this event together! We couldn’t have done it without you and all our staff and volunteers.
Supporting our Family Resource Centers (FRCs) during the holidays is a great way to promote community engagement and holiday cheer. This year, we chose to emphasize how collaboration with partnerships, staff, and volunteers support our community, but we also encourage everyone to support where they can with time spent, gift giving, and learning more about our FRC programs. Our FRCs serve thousands of clients per month with programs around language, computer literacy, and more. Learn more here: Family Resource Centers | YMCA of Greater San Francisco
