(Tampa, FL – November 8, 2024) Just in time for Veteran’s Day on Monday, November 11 – the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA is honored to launch Operation Strong Families. November is also National Veteran and Military Families Month. The free program for both members and non-members supports active military and veteran families, provides tools for stress management, wellness and a sense of community. Registration is open through November.
Dave Jewell, Tampa Y’s Associate Program Director, Military Families Program retired from the Army after 25 years of active duty and several years with the Defense Department. As someone who experienced the stresses of being a father and husband while serving on active duty, he notes the program has multiple benefits.
“Operation Strong Families brings small groups of military and veteran families together in the safe, resource-rich YMCA environment. Frequent family moves and deployments impose unique stresses on military families – particularly the children and the parent providing care while the service member is away for extended periods. Operation Strong Families aims to equip families with the tools and resources to reduce stress, enhance youth self-esteem, and build their confidence with the many social and community resources available to promote their overall well-being.”
The initiative will be hosted at four family centers – the Spurlino YMCA, Northwest Hillsborough YMCA, North Brandon YMCA and South Tampa YMCA. Attendees will meet two evenings a week for 10 weeks. There will be small group discussions focusing on the lived experiences of military families, and small group workouts to enhance physical and mental health. Children will have a separate group of their own. The curriculum followed is provided by the Armed Services YMCA, tailored to address the unique struggles of military life. Each Center can host six families with children in grades 3-6.
Funded by the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, Operation Strong Families results from the Tampa Y’s key strategic priority to fill critical community voids. Our goal is to make the Tampa YMCA a local destination where these families can grow in health, connectedness, and mental wellness.
“By joining our program, military and veteran families will benefit from focused engagement and wellness experiences tailored specifically to them. We have a large population of active and veteran military members in Tampa Bay, because of MacDill Air Force Base. We hope to help families in service appreciate the benefits the YMCA can provide them and help them better engage in their communities. Any military or veteran family who can find a home at the Y strengthens the bonds of our greater community.”
Find more information, or to register visit our page. Or email: military.families@tampaymca.org.
For media queries, please contact:
Kiran Malik-Khan
Senior Communications Director
Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA
Kiran.malik-khan@tampaymca.org