Nyack YMCA Partners with Subaru for Operation Warm

With last week’s weather bringing several days in the low teens, it’s safe to say Old Man Winter is back with a vengeance. The air outside is cold enough to sting, but inside the YMCA of Nyack there is a warmth that has nothing to do with the thermostat. For a lucky group of children, winter days were about to get a little warmer—and even a bit more fashionable.

This year, 40 children from Nyack Head Start were given the opportunity to be outfitted not only with warm coats and jackets, but also with brand-new pairs of sneakers. For the second year in a row, the Rockland YMCA partnered with Subaru for its Share the Love Event in collaboration with Operation Warm. Now in its 17th year, Share the Love was created by Subaru as a way to give back to local communities across the United States. This wasn’t a simple “coat drive” or quick drop-off event—it was one built around connection and community.

For many of the children and their parents, choosing a coat and sneakers felt less like receiving a necessity and more like a small celebration. Smiles were everywhere as kids tried on their new gear, proudly showing off their picks to parents, staff, and volunteers.

Vernex Harding, Executive Director of Rockland Head Start, explained the importance of moments like this. “Our kids can’t focus on learning if they’re cold or wearing worn-down shoes,” Harding said. “When their basic needs are met, everything else becomes possible.” That core value sits at the heart of Nyack Head Start’s mission.

Erskine Grisgby, Family Coordinator, noted that most children in the program seem to eagerly look forward to it every week. The YMCA serves as a gymnasium of sorts for Nyack Head Start, and every Thursday the children participate in recreational activities led by John Dillon, the School Age Director at the Y.

Dillon, who has worked at the YMCA for four years, says the kids truly make his day. “Even though they have me running around like crazy and working up a sweat, it brings me a ton of joy to see their smiles each and every week.”

That same energy was echoed by Nyack YMCA CEO Philip Donnelly, who could be seen handing out high-fives to just about every child in the room. “It’s important that we put these kids first,” Donnelly said. “Their well-being and educational development is why we exist.” Donnelly has been actively traveling to Albany and Washington, D.C. to advocate for continued federal funding for YMCA programs, emphasizing that events like this help build lasting community relationships.

It’s safe to say many families were helped by this event—and if the smiles were any indication, next year’s turnout may be even bigger.