Hershey Company makes $40K contribution to support childcare at Waynesboro YMCA

WAYNESBORO, Va. (WVIR) - A $40,000 contribution from the Hershey Company of Stuarts Draft is supporting childcare scholarships at the Waynesboro Family YMCA, giving families affordable access to care when their children are out of school.

Rebecca Patton, childcare director at the Waynesboro Family YMCA, said the funding addresses a need for working parents.

“While they go to work, they want to know that their kids are somewhere, that they’re safe, they’re loved, they’re cared for — and they want to be able to afford to do that,” Patton said.

Twenty-eight children currently receive scholarships covering 50% or more of their tuition, according to Patton. That number is expected to grow in the summer, with more than 40 children at the YMCA supported by scholarship funds.

“It’s just important for them to have those scholarships available for them so they can afford good quality care,” Patton said.

Ann Hudlow, executive director of the Waynesboro Family YMCA, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment between the two organizations to support children and families in the community.

“The combined mission of both Hershey Company and the Waynesboro Y is to support our community and to realize the importance of giving back to those who need help,” Hudlow said.

Hudlow said through scholarship funding, programs at the YMCA, and a team of committed childcare staff, they work to support families and uplift the community at large.

“The scholarships that they’re providing are incredibly impactful, and the Hershey Company is not only a friend to us, but a friend to very many families in the community,” Hudlow said.

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