THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 1, 1994 TAG: 9408310169
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
TWO YEARS AGO, Brenda Martinez found herself caught in a downward spiral. Her source of income had ended abruptly when business declined with the cleaning service for which she worked. Because she had less seniority than other employees, she was the first to be laid off.
As a single parent with a 4-year-old son, Martinez needed to work but couldn't afford quality child care to give her the free time she needed to look for adequate employment.
She and her son, Michael Sargent, were finally forced to turn to the Suffolk Homeless Shelter.
Then things started to turn around.
``That's when I first heard some talk about the Suffolk YMCA,'' Martinez said. ``Then Michael brought some information about the Y home from school.
``I couldn't have made it to this point without the help of the Suffolk YMCA.''
First, Martinez applied for the YMCA scholarship assistance program and registered Michael for the Y's before-and-after school program. This summer Michael also participated in the Y's Summer Day Camp Program. Michael flourished in the YMCA's atmosphere.
He says he loved the active sports and the cultural enrichment. The summer program's weekly field trips also ranked high with him.
``I liked our trips to Kids Cove and Fort Fun the best,'' he said.
Michael says he enjoyed the Christian choruses he learned during weekly music sessions. He sang with the Y's Children's Chorus at the United Way kickoff in late August.
In addition, Michael participated in the Day Camp sports activities and earned two blue ribbons in local YMCA ``Olympic'' competition this summer in Norfolk.
With Michael involved in a program with supervision, Martinez was able to invest her time and energy into getting her own business off the ground.
``I started with one cleaning job and was recommended to others. Then things just started to snowball.
``Now things are fantastic, and I'm able to make a living,'' she said with a smile of pride.
This week, Martinez and her son, who is now 6, will move into their own home, and in the fall Michael will enter program for gifted children in the public school system. He'll also continue his involvement in the YMCA before-and-after school program.
Brenda's a perfect example of what you can do if you have a program like this,'' said Tracy Grady, child-care director for the Suffolk Y's Summer Day Camp Program as well as its preschool and before-and-after school programs.
``From the very beginning, Brenda wanted to better herself. She always focused on being self-sufficient and used the program for what it's there for.''
The Y's state-licensed day care program and its before-and-after school program offer participants weekday supervision and programming from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Annual fund-raisers such as the YMCA Community Chorus Concert and the ``We Build People'' canvassing of local businesses and organizations net the Y about $45,000 for its scholarship assistance program. The United Way also earmarks additional contributions to the Y's child-care program.
``It's because of caring people within the community that deserving people like Brenda Martinez and Michael can participate,'' said Martha Callis, the Suffolk Y's membership director.
``The YMCA gave us a chance to start over again and change things around,'' Martinez said. ``I don't think Michael could be happier. And wherever we live I'm going to always focus on his involvement at the Y.''
Along with her thanks to the Suffolk Homeless Shelter and the YMCA, Martinez added her gratitude to God.
``I owe all my peace and blessings to the Lord. Through all the hard times, He was always there, and without Him I couldn't have made it.'' MEMO: For additional information about the Suffolk YMCA's fall programs or its
scholarship assistance, contact Martha Callis or Director Ed Lee at
934-YMCA. The Y's child-care program has an open-door policy and invites
visitors to come and see the center.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Brenda Martinez found the help she needed for her son, Michael, in
the before-and-after school program and the Summer Day Camp at the
Suffolk YMCA.
by CNB