Garnet Douglas

The Douglas family had a difficult year with a family issue no one saw coming. Garnet Douglas was left to raise three children on her own while serving full time in the U.S. military and working one hour away every day. Trying to balance work, parenting, finances, loss, vehicle issues and a few other unexpected challenges, it was overwhelming in every sense. The YMCA provided the support she desperately needed.

Here’s Garnet Douglas’ story in her own words:

My daughter began attending the South YMCA Early Learning Center in 2021, shortly after turning 1 years old, and my youngest started at the beginning of 2025 at just 3 months old. I am truly grateful for the support I received during such a difficult time. Knowing my babies were in good hands made everything just a little easier. The love and care the ELC staff showed them, treating them as if they were their own, means more to me than I can express. 

Finding child care, you can trust, is not easy, but that has never been a concern at the South ELC.  Communication has always been exceptional, and I never once had to question the quality of care my children were receiving.

There came a time when I had to swallow my pride and ask for financial help. This was very difficult for me because I was taught to take care of things myself. But because of the relationships I developed with the staff and leadership, I felt comfortable asking for help. They were able to set me up with financial assistance to help cover the cost of child care. This lifted a weight off my shoulders, and it let me focus on other areas that I needed to improve on.

This is where the local community of the YMCA stepped in. The generosity (of YMCA supporters) made it possible for me to receive financial assistance for my children, and I cannot express the level of relief that brought. The support allowed me to stabilize, regroup and put my children and myself in a better position.

Thank you for everything that you do and the help you give to those that are struggling and trying to find a way out.