Boothbay Region YMCA

Ted and Betty Repa head up 2020 BRYMCA Annual Fund

Mon, 07/20/2020 - 10:00am

Ted and Betty Repa’s message as Boothbay Region YMCA’s 2020 Annual Fund co-chairs is, “Together, we make an impact.” The Annual Fund raises money for general operations, scholarships and for making memberships affordable, something especially important during the economic downturn, the couple said.

“We understand people are in troubling times,” said Betty. “The Y can help us and people can help us help the Y … Every program that the Y has to offer is the heartbeat of our community.”

The Repas became involved with the Y almost immediately upon moving to the region in 1999 and both started out as avid tennis players. Since then they have both branched out to aqua-aerobics and Betty also to Tai Chi.

Ted had no experience with the Y growing up in a Southern California city roughly the same size as Boothbay Harbor. Now, he enjoys the benefits of a membership which has guided him through health issues to a good aqua-centric exercise routine.

“For an old person like me, I like to interact with young people,” said Ted. “It's kind of cool.”

Said Betty, “This is really our first immersion in a Y … It's really since we've been in Boothbay Harbor that we've become Y people.”

The couple said the Y offers many opportunities for different people and even in the wake of masks and physical distancing, the Y has adapted phenomenally and compassionately. Executive Director Andy Hamblett said the Y’s response to COVID-19 has brought forth three points of pride, personally: continuing the child enrichment center, working on providing food for families in need and finding a successful way to keep Camp Knickerbocker open.

“The kids that we're serving are really from families that need to go to work. The best part is hearing the sound of the laughter in the woods. It’s a sense of normalcy for families which is great,” said Hamblett.

The Repas find pride in the variety of programming including hosting blood drives, Set for Success, Penguin Plunge, supporting fellow nonprofits in many ways and the partnership between the Y and Boothbay Region High School. Said Ted, “I’ve watched the high school and junior high school students come to the Y after school. It provides a safe place where parents can feel comfortable their kids are going to be taken care of. It's just a special place that adapts to the continuing changing needs.”

Betty said some of her favorite memories are from tennis, Tai Chi and her many years as a volunteer at the front desk where she would greet people and make friends. Ted said he particularly enjoys Set for Success. “The whole community comes in and the kids get free school supplies to start school. Both of us are educators and we know how important it is for kids being able to start school with the appropriate supplies to learn.”

Hamblett said the Repas go out of their way to support whatever they can, however much they can. From growing the Penguin Plunge to covering free swimming lessons for second graders and being the first Y members through the doors when the facilities opened back up, the Repas represent everything great about the Y family, he said.

Said Betty, “It's a wonderful community that we live in. When there's been a need, people step up and we hope that happens with the Annual Fund because it's tougher now. People have lost incomes and can't cover memberships and fees for programs and so on. It's a community I believe in and I think we're going to make it. We're hopeful because it is a community that gives … We truly believe in the Y.”