About the Nonprofit
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When the Young Mens Christian Association of Eastern Union County began in 1900 our mission was to provide housing and activities for young men immigrating to Elizabeth, NJ at the turn of the 20th century. At the time we could only rent out 12 rooms above Parson’s Drug Store for this purpose, but as our community grew and their needs expanded so did our Y’s programs & services.
Today we're known as The Gateway Family YMCA—a community-based organization rooted in Christian principles and committed to building healthy lives through programs that strengthen minds, bodies, and spirits for people of all ages, religions, and cultures. Headquartered in Elizabeth, NJ, The Gateway Family YMCA proudly serves over 16,000 community members in Union and Middlesex Counties each year.
We strengthen these communities through a variety of programs including social services for seniors; swimming lessons; infant, toddler, preschool, & school age child care; educational programs; chronic disease management programs; health & wellness programs; and emergency shelter, transitional housing & affordable housing programs with wrap-around social services. Everything our Y does is to help our communities thrive, and at the heart of that commitment lies the housing programs that started our YMCA 123 years ago.