Mission statement of West Broad Street YMCA: To Provide economic empowerment to help end generational poverty for members of our community using a holistic approach. We do this through programming, strategic partnerships, and community engagement to improve the quality of life so our youth and families can better thrive
The West Broad Street YMCA’s “Cultivating Healthy Futures” initiative provides vital, hands-on learning and food security to Savannah’s most underserved communities. We utilize approximately 1/3 acre of our 4.1-acre site as a dynamic, interdisciplinary outdoor classroom.
Key Achievements & Big Impact Statistics
People Served Annually: We directly engage over 220 individuals annually in the garden, including:
100+ students in our Summer Camp (ages 4–13).
75 students in our After-School Program (ages 4–13).
40 children (starting at age 1) in our Childcare Center.
Dozens of seniors and members of our Boy Scout Troop.
Addressing Food Insecurity: We grow hundreds of pounds of organic produce each year, which is integrated directly into the daily lives of our community. This harvest is used for:
Lunches served in our cafeteria for children.
Hands-on cooking and nutrition classes.
Direct distribution to families and seniors, who take home the produce they grow.
Holistic Education: We utilize the garden as an outdoor classroom across all curricula, going beyond basic planting. This includes:
STEM: Conducting real-world investigations and environmental studies.
Arts & Literature: Integrating art, music, and reading in specialized areas like the Dinosaur Garden and Fairy Garden.
Key Programs & Services
The garden supports all of the Y’s core programming by providing accessible, nature-based learning stations, including raised beds, elevated beds for seniors, and pollinator gardens. We start teaching gardening, environmental studies, and nature-based learning to children as young as one year old and continue through our senior program, fostering a lifelong connection to food and the environment.