YMCA of Lincoln holding 2nd swimsuit drive

Last year's inaugural drive was able to bring in more than 350 suits.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Last year’s YMCA of Lincoln swimsuit drive was a huge success. You all collected more than 350 suits for kids in need during that inaugural event. This second edition of the event runs through May 23.

“We’re serving youth that are in kindergarten through fifth grade”, says Northeast YMCA Aquatic Director Tabetha Burnham. “We are looking for sizes extra small through extra large.”

These kids are joining in from the community learning centers, which serve some of the most at-risk areas in town. The YMCA is working with seven schools this summer.

“That is hundreds of children who will learn how to swim and learn elements of water safety”, says Burnham.

As for the role you play, since these kids are coming from some of those at-risk neighborhoods, they may never have had a swimsuit to call their own. You can change that.

Remembering last year, Burnham says, “One of the kiddos just looked at me and said, ‘I get to keep this, this is mine?’. It was very impactful.”

You still have time to make that impact. You can take new or gently used swimsuits to any of Lincoln’s YMCA branches. They’re requesting one-piece suits in XS-XL. If you prefer, you can make a donation of money or a gift card to the branches as well.