Programs We Support

The Empowering Recovery with Wellness program served 278 unduplicated individuals by offering a range of wellness activities designed to support recovery, emotional well-being, and healthier lifestyles. Participants engaged in group-based wellness events that reduced stress and anxiety, improved decision-making, and helped individuals build practical skills that support long-term recovery and quality of life.

The Community Health Worker Program served 8 unduplicated individuals, including adults, children, and an infant, by providing personalized support through home visits, education, and connections to community resources. Participants received assistance accessing benefits, transportation support, nutrition programs, and health education, helping families build stability and improve long-term well-being.

The Homeless Advocacy Program at The Winter Sanctuary served 356 unduplicated individuals by providing emergency shelter, hotel placements, and one-on-one advocacy to address barriers such as housing instability, mental health needs, addiction recovery, and access to benefits. In 2025, the program delivered 3,190 shelter bed nights, facilitated 173 emergency hotel placements, and helped 57 individuals transition into stable housing or sober living, including 25 who secured apartments of their own.

The Youth Programs served 45 students and 142 family members by providing before- and after-school programming, academic support, and social-emotional development services. Through structured learning environments and individualized support, students demonstrated improved report cards, emotional regulation, and stability, allowing parents to maintain employment while children learned and grew in a safe, supportive setting.

The Blood Services program served 12,081 unduplicated individuals by coordinating blood drives and collecting lifesaving blood products throughout Knox County. Through community partnerships and donor engagement, the program ensured a stable blood supply to meet medical needs and support hospitals and patients across the region.

The Disaster Services program served 211 unduplicated individuals by responding to home fires and local disasters across Knox County. Families received emergency assistance, financial support, and recovery services, including smoke alarm installations and short-term relief that helped households stabilize and begin recovery following crises.

The Community Wellness Program provided financial assistance to individuals and families who otherwise could not afford YMCA memberships or programs. In 2025, 705 unduplicated individuals were served through 212 scholarships, removing financial barriers to physical activity, youth programming, and social connection. Participants consistently reported improved health, reduced stress, and progress toward personal wellness goals as a result of increased access to YMCA services.

The Intentional Funding Program served Knox County families by addressing immediate, unmet needs through short-term financial assistance. This flexible funding helped individuals access transportation, enrichment opportunities, and essential supports, allowing families to stabilize without requiring long-term system involvement.

The School-Based Prevention Program Expansion served 724 unduplicated students across six Knox County schools by delivering evidence-based prevention education. Students gained increased knowledge, decision-making skills, social competence, and drug resistance skills, exceeding program goals and strengthening protective factors for youth across the county.

The School Pantries program supported Knox County schools by providing regular pantry services to help address food insecurity among students and families. Through monthly pantry deliveries to participating schools, the program ensured consistent access to food resources and successfully met established service goals.

The AIM (Act. Impact. Motivate.) program focused on prevention education and advocacy by providing 224 individual advocacy interactions for youth and community members. Through education, relationship-building, and early intervention, participants gained tools to recognize unhealthy behaviors, strengthen decision-making skills, and promote safer, healthier relationships within the community.

The Head Start and Early Head Start programs served 599 unduplicated children and pregnant mothers by delivering comprehensive early childhood education, family support, and social-emotional development services. Children and families benefited from school readiness programming, family goal-setting, and coordinated support for developmental, behavioral, and educational needs, helping children thrive and prepare for kindergarten.