When Kelly Kjarstad needed a safe place where she could feel comfortable, the Y and the scholarship funds provided by Step Up were there to help her.
Kelly have received a couple scholarships in the past, but also has given what she can to the Step Up Campaign because she knows how much the Y has to offer everyone in the community.
“[My Y membership] was life-saving for me; it gave me a place…where I felt good. Exercise for me is very important [because] I suffer from severe anxiety and it is one of the tools I use to control it. I have been able to overcome so much of my anxiety and am now participating in group classes like yoga and Zumba, which I thought I could never do,” Kjarstad said.
Kelly’s daughter Kara also exercises at the Y and Kelly has seen her daughter’s self-esteem and body image improve.
Like many members of the Y, Kelly loves being a member because she feels comfortable being herself and because there is no way to tell who is scholarship member at the Y and who is not: everyone is the same.
“[The Y is] a place where I can be myself, I can show up in the morning with no makeup and sweats and feel comfortable,” Kjarstad said. “I have had membership in other gyms and never felt comfortable being myself.”
In fact, one in four members at the Skagit Valley Family YMCA receives a scholarship! In 2010, the Skagit Valley family YMCA gave more than 1,800 scholarships totaling more than $140,000 thanks to your donations. Kelly admitted she felt a little awkward asking for a scholarship at first, but once Kelly got in touch with Ingrid, the scholarship specialist, Kelly said she felt more comfortable; Ingrid made it okay to ask for help. The Step Up Campaign can make a huge difference to families like Kelly’s.
“[Step Up is a] great campaign and the people who donate are life-savers!” said Kelly. “I just want to say thank you again for the support from the Y and the great staff! I will continue to be a member and I continue to tell my friends.”
