Social Security benefits set to increase by 8.7% in 2023; Georgians react

https://www.walb.com/2022/10/13/social-security-benefits-set-increase-by-87-2023-georgians-react/

By Fallon HowardPublished: Oct. 13, 2022 at 5:29 PM EDT

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – The Social Security Administration is now stating that they will increase benefits by 8.7% starting in January 2023. WALB spoke with community leaders and attendees at the Albany Area YMCA about their support for seniors’ financial burdens.

Many seniors WALB spoke with on Thursday say that programs like the YMCA allow them to afford services such as physical therapy when they’re not able to be covered by insurance.

“The seniors, they have access to many different insurance plans that help pay entirely or at least partially offset the cost of membership. And not only that the Albany YMCA offers a reduced cost for seniors because of the fact that they’re seniors and they’ve put in their time, and they need the YMCA is a source of community and wellness,” Albany Area YMCA CEO, Dan Gillan said.

The YMCA offers a variety of programs, often with low costs and high flexibility payment options for seniors.

“So it’s a one-stop shop in all ways. And all they have to do is knock on our doors. Let us know how we can help them because each one that walks in our door helps us to learn about them; to learn what they have to deal with. I happen to be one of these seniors you are speaking about. I have access to Social Security,” Health and Wellness Director at the Albany YMCA, Sam McCormick said.

“After I pay all my bills with my Social Security check, I have $35 in my checking account. So, this will help a lot. And I thank the government,” Lee County resident and YMCA attendee, Brenda Lewis said.

One senior citizen attending the YMCA says that once she’s exhausted her insurance coverage, she has to pay for services like physical therapy out of pocket.

She called this a “donut hole.”

A doughnut hole refers to when your total drug costs and what your plan has paid for reach a certain limit. That limit is $4,430 for 2022. That’s according to a Medicare report.

“It makes me feel happy because I’ve really made an increase checked with my medicine last week, and I fell into what they call a doughnut hole. And so I’m having to pay more for my medicines,” Albany resident and YMCA attendee, Gloria Bridges said.

Many seniors hope the increase, which is the second largest in history, is enough to offset other increasing costs.

Copyright 2022 WALB. All rights reserved.

Mobile Ag Classroom Inspiring Future Famers

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – The Albany Area YMCA is working to inspire a future generation of farmers. To help with that goal, they had a mobile ag classroom stop by.

Kids got hands-on experience and exposure to one of Georgia’s top industries.

Around 150 kids and people in the community got to walk through the mobile ag classroom and learn about agriculture opportunities around them.

Third grader Gavin Stewart got to walk through the classroom.
Third grader Gavin Stewart got to walk through the classroom.(WALB)

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Third grader Gavin Stewart is one of the kids that got to experience the mobile ag classroom.

“I learned about how cows produce milk and cheese and they have a lot of things that we eat and drink today that we all have at our house. I had an amazing day. I got to learn about a lot of animals that are here on the farm and what they eat,” said Stewart.

It has eight different stations inside, teaching kids about Georgia’s top commodities, things like vegetables, peanuts, cotton, forestry, beef and dairy.

Natalie Bennett is the programs assistant for the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture. She said...
Natalie Bennett is the programs assistant for the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture. She said their goal is to get kids involved in ag programs and hopefully, future ag careers.(WALB)

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Natalie Bennett is the programs assistant for the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture. She said their goal is to get kids involved in ag programs and hopefully, future ag careers.

″What we find is a lot of kids they see it on the side of the road, but they don’t really know about it. They don’t know why it’s there (and why) that’s what ends up in grocery stores. It’s important for all kids, even places like Tifton where you assume there’s a lot of agriculture in that area. And actually, it’s not it’s a dying breed and we don’t have many farmers to replace ones we have,” said Bennett.

YMCA President and CEO Dan Gillan says they will continue doing this.
YMCA President and CEO Dan Gillan says they will continue doing this.(WALB)

This is the second year the mobile ag classroom has stopped by the Albany Area YMCA.ADVERTISEMENT

YMCA President and CEO Dan Gillan said it won’t be the last.

“It’s an experience that the kids are not gonna forget. And who knows, maybe we will literally plant the seeds for their future and becoming a professional in this field,” said Gillan.

The mobile ag classroom travels to different counties in Georgia. This is their second year. By year three, they’re hoping to have stopped in all 159 counties in Georgia.

Copyright 2022 WALB. All rights reserved.

https://www.walb.com/2022/07/20/mobile-ag-classroom-inspiring-future-farmers/

Albany YMCA focusing on water safety going into warmer months

https://www.walb.com/2022/04/02/ymca-focusing-water-safety-going-into-warmer-months/

By Molly GodleyPublished: Apr. 1, 2022 at 10:05 PM EDT|Updated: Apr. 2, 2022 at 12:00 PM EDT

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – The Albany Area YMCA is taking the time to make sure kids and adults know how to be safe in and around water. The Aquatic’s Director, Jurnee Cotton said it’s important to know water safety measures as we head into the warmer months.

They teach kids and adults, how to swim, perform CPR and how to respond if someone were drowning.

“We use Jimmy, we call him Jimmy. He weighs about 180 pounds he’s pretty heavy,” said Cotton.

In the course, the swimmer swims down grabs the mannequin and then using the lifeguard tube...

In the course, the swimmer swims down grabs the mannequin, and then using the lifeguard tube takes him to the side of the pool.

″That’s when they take him out and do CPR,” said Cotton.

Cotton said this course is designed to take people through worst-case scenarios and teach them how to respond, hoping they will remember and use the information.

“I’m hoping they can use these tools when they go to birthday parties or pool parties. You can use it because you’re learning it, so I hope that they take this wherever they go, and they remember it too,” said Cotton.

According to the CDC, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1 -14.

Knowing CPR and how to help save someone from drowning can be life-changing, however, Cotton said just being aware can help keep you safe.

“Knowing your emergency action plan, is there a lifeguard. If there’s not a lifeguard, people around you that can help you. It’s very important to know what your surrounding are.”

It can also be helpful to keep floats nearby, that way if you get tired you have something to keep you above the water.

Cotton said they will have other safety events like this one when it gets a little closer to summer.

Copyright 2022 WALB. All rights reserved.

Albany Area YMCA starts 2022 support campaign

Albany Area YMCA starts 2022 support campaign

The support campaign helps with childcare, summer camp and after-school programs.
The support campaign helps with childcare, summer camp and after-school programs.(WALB)

By Molly GodleyPublished: Feb. 8, 2022 at 5:40 PM EST

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – The Albany Area YMCA just started its annual 2022 support campaign. Coordinators at the Y are hoping to raise $138,000 so anyone who wants to walk through their doors can.

The support campaign helps with childcare, summer camp and after-school programs.

Membership and Marketing Director Samantha Helton said it also helps senior citizens who may be recovering from surgery.

“We believe that every person deserves an opportunity to participate, and we don’t turn anyone away, regardless of their financial means,” said Helton.ADVERTISEMENT

To make sure the right people are getting financial help, Helton said you fill out an application submit a personal letter of your needs and provide basic pay stubs.

After that, you meet with a financial assistant who awards an amount based on that person’s needs.

Membership and Marketing Director Samantha Helton said it also helps senior citizens who may be...
Membership and Marketing Director Samantha Helton said it also helps senior citizens who may be recovering from surgery.(WALB)

″We make sure the people who receive our funds are people that actually need them. Not just someone who comes in a says, ‘hey, I don’t want to pay for a membership,’” said Helton.ADVERTISEMENT

Last year, they did see a dip in funds only being able to raise $40,000. Helton said that’s because of the pandemic.

“We’re trying to really up what we can do for our community because if we don’t bring these dollars in now. We won’t be able to provide that support this year,” said Helton.

She’s estimating if they meet the $138,000 goal, they’ll be able to help around 100 people in the Albany area.

If you’d like to donate the campaign runs from now until March.

Copyright 2022 WALB. All rights reserved.

Albany Area YMCA plans day of service honoring legacy of MLK

In honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., the Albany Area YMCA will be closed Jan. 18 so that employees can observe the national King Day holiday.

The community is invited to join the staff of the Albany Area YMCA at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 18 for a day of service honoring King’s legacy. Staff will meet at Harvest Temple Faith Ministries, located at 1016 Wingate Ave. in Albany. Y volunteers will clean debris from the church grounds in preparation for the launch of the organization’s “Y Without Walls” program, tentatively scheduled to start the first week in February.