CHARLOTTE — Are you feeling “COVID fatigue?” After months of juggling work, online learning and restless kids at home, health experts say you might be.
“They’re not used to being on the inside and now it’s summertime and it’s hard for me,” said Estella Helton, a Charlotte grandmother.
She isn’t alone. In fact, psychiatrists from Atrium Health said children are the ones who are feeling most interrupted right now.
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“They’re ready to get out and do things,” Dr. Crystal Bullard told Channel 9. “The school year has ended, it’s summertime, and because of the pandemic, many of these activities have been canceled.”
The YMCA of Greater Charlotte had a hunch that families may be feeling the burnout. The Foundation for the Carolinas just awarded them $500,000 to help get kids out of the house this summer.
“This is something where we feel like we need to step in, and we want to help the community,” YMCA Senior Vice President Dean Jones said.
The money will be used to offset the costs of the YMCA’s day camps, which resumed two weeks ago. The day is centered around classroom learning, mental wellness and playtime.
“The last several months have been especially challenging, in terms of the homeschooling,” Jones said.
Anyone can apply for the financial help -- you don’t have to be a YMCA member -- and there is still plenty of room available.
The YMCA said it is following strict guidelines to ensure kids stay safe, including taking their temperature before they come in and encouraging social distancing.
In order to keep the children spread out, the YMCA is offering the program at a handful of its locations, and they’ve also partnered with other organizations to use seven different facilities across the area.
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