Y ON THE FLY (YOTF)
Y on the Fly, (YOTF) is a mobile YMCA, OR “The Y without walls,” that provides programming experiences directly to our neighborhoods in Barry County. The YOTF program operates year-round and is known for FOOD, FUN and FITNESS. YMCA staff will engage youth in physical activities and a variety of fun games while encouraging healthy eating habits.
YOTF serves USDA-approved meals/snacks/drinks to youth 18 years old and younger in select neighborhoods.
Meet us at the Y van! YOTF is FREE TO ALL! No registration is required.
B. BUS MOBILE LIBRARY
Vision Statement: B. Reading, B. Active: Catch the Buzz
Mission Statement: To reach students throughout Barry County, providing access to summer reading and active learning.
The B. Bus, owned by the YMCA of Barry County, is operated through a collaboration between the Y, the United Way of Barry County, Delton Kellogg Schools, Maple Valley Schools, Hastings Area School System, Thornapple Kellogg Schools, and the Hastings Public Library. Our team is on a mission to keep Barry County kids and families reading all summer.
The B. Bus will visit neighborhoods throughout the county on specific days during the summer, Monday-Thursday. Participants can check out books, listen to stories, and engage in activities at stops.
Help keep the B. Bus rolling by considering an annual monetary gift. No gift is too small to keep Barry County reading strong!
Follow our YOTF and B. BUS Facebook page for updates, schedules, and special events!
Y ON THE FLY FALL 2024 SCHEDULE
Join us at the Y van for fun and active activities with our staff. Enjoy a FREE meal or snack at every location. All are welcome!
MONDAY/WEDNESDAY:
- Start Date: September 9th
- Quail Ridge: 3:40-4:30 PM
- Baltimore Terrace: 4:45-5:30 PM
TUESDAY:
- Start Date: September 10th, Nashville Baptist Church: 3:15-4:00 PM
- Start Date: September 17th, 2ND Ward Park (700 E. Bond St. Hastings): 3:00-4:00 PM
TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY:
- Start Date: September 10th
- Thornapple Lake Estates: 4:15-5:00 PM
TUESDAY/THURSDAY:
- Start Date: September 12th
- Yankee Springs Meadows: 4:30-5:15 PM
WEDNESDAY:
- Start Date: September 11th
- Barry County Christian School (after-school program): 3:15-4:00 PM
- Nashville Assembly of God: 5:10-6:00 PM
THURSDAY:
- Start Date: September 12th
- Southeastern Elementary: 3:00-3:50 PM
FOOD, FUN, & FITNESS!
Reading Rewards
B. Bucks Rewards
Redeem B. Bucks Rewards anytime the bus is in your neighborhood. B. Bucks are “spent” on B. Bus items such as frisbees, sports balls, jump ropes, pencils, water bottles, coffee mugs and more. Save for higher priced items OR use them to enter raffle prize drawings. **Prizes for youth, teens & adults!
NOTE: If you have unreturned/overdue books, you cannot earn B. Bucks during that stop
Donor Spotlight
Thank you to all who have donated!
Thank you to all who gave over $5000 towards our start up costs in years 2017-2018. Without these funds, we would not have been able to purchase, overhaul and get the B. Bus Mobile Library on the road. Below are the 3 Cornerstone Donors.
As our first major donor, First Presbyterian gave our committee the boost we needed to get the bus project off to a great start.
Learn more about First Presbyterian Church of Hastings by clicking below.
Great Lakes Energy People Fund is a great way to give to your community. By simply having your bill rounded up monthly, your gift allows for GREAT changes through Michigan. Visit GLE website to learn more and sign up.
Gold Sponsors
Giving Level – $2500-$4999
- Love for Barry County
- Deb & Scott McKeown
Silver Sponsors
Giving Level – $1000-$2499
- Thornapple Credit Union
- Star School PTO, Hastings, MI
- Key Club & Hastings High School Students 2017-2018
- Partners In Education (PIE), Delton-Kellogg Schools
- Youth Advisory Council (YAC)
- Thornapple Kellogg High School Students 2017-2018
Bronze Sponsors
Giving Level – $500-$999
- Sarah & Jeff Geukes
- Southeastern Elementary PTO, Hastings, MI
- Central Elementary PTO, Hastings, MI
- Northeastern Elementary PTO, Hastings, MI
- Miller Real Estate, Hastings, MI
- Delton-Kellogg Elementary Staff 2017-2018
- Bradford White
- Applied Imaging
- Thornapple Kellogg Schools PTO
- Thornapple Area Enrichment Foundation
- UWA – Bradford White Union Grant
KickStart to Career
KickStart to Career is a new children’s savings program brought to you by the Barry Community Foundation, Highpoint Community Bank and the Barry County schools. The program provides local kindergartners with a savings account seeded with $50.00, and is designed to help students start saving money for their future college or career training expenses.
In addition to helping students invest in their future, the program also introduces the concept of savings and teaches families the importance of financial literacy.
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B. Bus Mobile Library & Y On The Fly
B. Bus Mobile Library's goal is to reach students throughout Barry County, providing access to summer reading and active learning.
Y on the Fly (YOTF) is a mobile YMCA that includes food (FREE Meals/Snacks), fun, & fitness.
B. Bus Mobile Library
How do you get 350 rural kids to read 2,100 books during 10 weeks in summer? Introducing the B. Bus Mobile Library! It began in 2018 with the help of a Great Lakes Energy People Fund grant and is administered by the YMCA of Barry County.