Create Lasting Memories

Father Daughter & Military Child Ball | July 19 & 20, 2024

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Our Mission

The Armed Services YMCA enhances the lives of military members and their families in spirit, mind, and body through programs relevant to the unique challenges of military life.

Our focus is to provide needed programs and services for single or married junior enlisted personnel and their family members. The Armed Services YMCA Hampton Roads empowers military families, no matter who they are or where they’re from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships, and opportunities for all to learn, grow, and thrive.

What We Do for Our Military Community

Our programs empower young people, improve health and well-being, as well as provide support and inspire action in our communities today and every day. Explore our offerings below to discover new ways to connect to your purpose, potential, and each other.

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baby learning to walk is held by hands by her mom in military uniform

MILITARY SUPPORT PROGRAMS

Browse programs exclusively tailored to meet the needs of military members and their families serving in the Hampton Roads area.

Group of fathers in dress military uniforms dancing with their younger daughters at military ball

ANNUAL EVENTS

The Armed Services YMCA hosts events every year geared towards strengthening our military family. These events serve as a celebration of our military community and help to promote comradery and military pride across the 757

CHILD DEVELOPMENT & SUMMER CAMP

The Armed Services YMCA Hampton Roads offers early education and development opportunities for toddlers, engaging summer camps, before & after care for school-age children, and family bonding opportunities for all ages.

Hearts For Heroes Fishing Trip

May 31, 2024 | Rudee Inlet Virginia Beach Comradery among peers is important to a strong military community. The comradery is even more important for our nation's wounded and ill veterans. Hearts for Heroes allows our service-related wounded, injured and ill veterans of all service related operations the opportunity for a therapy respite outlet on Chesapeake Bay. The Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads helps to create an environment for this unique military unite to rely upon each other and to be strengthened by each other's experiences.

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Two parallel fishing boats filled with veterans getting ready for their fishing trip

WHAT WE DO TO STRENGTHEN MILITARY FAMILIES

Armed Services YMCA Hampton Roads operates programs and services to ease the burden of military families and single service members who are currently serving, with an emphasis on junior enlisted personnel. We work with installation leadership to ensure a network of support for military families stationed at Hampton Roads, Norfolk, and surrounding areas. This collaboration allows us to identify and address gaps in services that pose a hardship to service members and their families—hardships that can negatively affect mission readiness.

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Operation Little Learners

Operation Little Learners is an interactive education program that offers active-duty military families and their children ages 18 months- 5 years old an opportunity to learn and grow together.

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Soldier and his spouse are greeted by family with hugs at Christmas

Operation Ride Home

Nationally sponsored by Jack Daniels, Operation Ride Home provides financial assistance to active duty junior enlisted military and their families to travel home for the holidays.

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Emergency Food Assistance

To make certain that no military family ever goes hungry, our Patriot's Pantry offers emergency food, supplies and baby items to active-duty service members at no cost to them.

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Why It Matters

6-9

The number of times military children will be transferred by the 12th grade

43%

The percentage of military families who feel isolated from their communities

7 in 10

The ratio of military parents struggling to access affordable, quality childcare.

40%

The percentage of military children on free or reduced-price lunch programs.