YMCA front desk and lobby area where gym equipment is being used and staff members await members. (Photo by Ashley Knight)

PARKERSBURG — Four years after West Virginia became a state the very first YMCA charter started in the year 1867.

Its goal was to give economic relief to the poor as a result of the Civil War. However, it failed to stay active for long due to the lack of support from the community at large.

“Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough financial support for it and that term ended up folding a few years later,” said Jeff Olson, CEO of the Parkersburg YMCA. “Then in 1899, the second charter was alive for about five years until it suffered the same result. The third charter, the one the YMCA is operating under now, started in 1902.”

Celebrating 121 years of service now the YMCA is thriving and a part of the community underpinning. Opening the doors for programs such as Rocksteady Boxing which is for Parkinson’s patients, Livestrong for cancer patients, after-school care and summer camp along with its many fitness classes and more. These programs are only a few that the YMCA offers to the community, but a great example of how the YMCA fills the needs of the community around it.

“There are many misconceptions about the YMCA, people commonly think of it as just a gym, swimming and exercise classes. Although, we absolutely do provide that service to the community, the reason behind it is to generate revenue that we can then reinvest into the community,” said Olson. “Memberships aren’t just used to keep the lights on, but are circled back to the programs we offer for the community.”

The staff even goes out and volunteers for programs like Adopt A Highway and food drives, they’ve worked with Habitat for Humanity while also providing events for the community, such as the fall Sweet Treats on Broad Street, a truck or treat for the Halloween holiday.

“We are always trying to find better ways to serve our community,” Olson said, giving residents a great resource for their many needs while supporting its mission.

The YMCA is a jack of all trades so to speak housing within it a variety of ways to reach the community and make a difference.

“We have a tremendous number of successful partnerships. The Wood County Library send their bookmobile to our after-school and summer camp program, while we do free yoga classes there each Friday at the Emerson location,” Olson said. “We have delivered meals for the Wood County Senior Citizens Association, and we manage the pools for the town in North Hills.

“Our three core values are youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility,” said Olson.

There is an incredible amount of things going on at the YMCA to get involved with or to support in one way or another, keeping the community held together through much more than the programs. It is also teaching the children coming through the values it upholds and reaching beyond just this generation.

The YMCA is at 1800 30th St., Parkersburg, and its number is 304-485-5585.