When Sarah moved to Manitowoc, one of the first places she came was the Y. She had been a member of the Y in the last two communities she lived in and knew it could be a place to meet people and stay active. In a new town where she was feeling lonely and hoping to make friends, the Y quickly became a familiar and comforting place.

Since joining, Sarah has found connection in group exercise classes, where friendships have grown into walks, coffee dates, and time spent together beyond class. She has even invited friends from other parts of her life to come enjoy classes with her. Her children have also found their own place at the Y through swim lessons and basketball. The kind teachers and coaches “make the Y feel like a happy place they can always go.”

For Sarah and her family, the Y transformed a new town into a place where they feel known, welcomed, and at home.