YMCA-YWCA of Guelph providing long-haul truck driver’s a safe stop along their routes

Guelph, ON – April 20, 2020 – For almost 150 years, the YMCA-YWCA of Guelph has sought to respond to community needs. While many of our services and programs are similar across the province, nation, and even world, COVID-19 is changing this, as each organization is looking for the most appropriate way to respond to needs and serve our communities.

“The Guelph Y is not alone in this,” says Geoff Vogt, CEO. “The nation-wide response to COVID-19 has left everyone reconsidering ‘normal,’ especially in terms of work. For us, it means working from home and offering a variety of services and programs online. And, starting today, it also means becoming a safe space to stop and practice hygiene for long haul truck drivers.”

Working in collaboration with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, the Guelph Y is opening its doors daily from 7:00 – 10:00 am to provide these front-line service providers a safe space to use the bathroom and shower.

“Hearing that rest stops were closed to them and knowing we’re such a short distance from the 401 – with both east-bound and west-bound exists, it made sense to us. We’re relying on truck drivers to deliver our essential services; this is our way of providing them access to a clean and accessible space to take care of themselves as they work to provide for us.”

To ensure the health and well-being of Guelph Y staff and the drivers themselves, numerous protocols are in place. These include self-screening (drivers need to be symptom free), increased hand sanitizing stations and drivers having to call the Y to be let in, with no more than 15 drivers allowed in the facility at one time. Only a limited number of showers and bathrooms will be open, and there will be increased cleaning procedures followed.

“As a charity with a service mindset, the Y has a legacy of responding to community needs,” says Vogt. “Our Y has the facilities and the ability to meet the need of this particular group. It just makes sense that we would do so.”

This is just one way the Guelph Y is responding to community needs in the new COVID-19 reality. Last week they announced partnering with the Wellington Catholic District School Board to deliver a YGym program, and at the start of the provincial shutdown they worked with regional YMCAs to launch a ThisIsY.ca – free, virtual programming, and services for individuals of all ages and abilities.