Story courtesy of Merrimack Valley YMCA

Mary Ellen King has been an early childhood educator for more than four decades, and a majority of her career has been spent as Child Care Director at the Merrimack Valley YMCA. She has loved, guided and bonded with thousands of children and their families over the decades.

“I now have children in the program who I taught when they were preschoolers!” she says.

She started at the Jewish Community Center in Lawrence before that organization was merged with the Lawrence YMCA on Lawrence Street.

“The best thing about working at the Y is the people: my colleagues, the great teachers, the caring families and community members. There’s not a day that I didn’t want to go to work. I’m here because of the people,” the Salem, N.H., resident said. “The Y is in the position that we want families to come to the Y and enjoy time together. We are the family hub serving all generations of the family. Families come not just for child care and early childhood education, but also for events, activities, swimming, classes and education. From swimming to sports to teen programs to active older adult classes, our Y has something for everyone. I have personally taught Quick Start Tennis, Slimy Science, Comic

Book Drawing, Arts and Crafts, Cooking, and Let’s Get Fit classes at our branches. I love to see participants learn new skills and gain confidence and meet new friends in all of these opportunities.”

Mary Ellen is acutely tuned in to the needs of the families she serves. You may notice her from the Methuen YMCA, where she pitches in with two projects that are close to her heart.

“I am proud of two programs in our Y that I volunteer my time at monthly. My Kids Closet is in its third year of operation. Families may go to the Methuen Y the second Saturday of each month to shop for children’s clothing, school uniforms and footwear. This is a program where parents and participants give back to the community by donating their own children’s out-grown clothing. We also have ‘laundry fairies’ who volunteer to wash the articles of clothing before they are put in our My Kids Closet space to share with the community.

“We also offer a Mobile Mart at the Methuen Y on the last Saturday of the month where clients drive up in their vehicles to get fresh produce, meats, vegetables, milk, cheese, juices and other healthy foods for their homes,” she continued. “This is a wonderful partnership with Boston Food Bank. Many Y staff, volunteers, board members and community people who come together to help fight food insecurity,” she said.
Mary Ellen lives in Salem, but was born and raised in Lawrence and educated in the public schools.

“I have a passion for the city. I have been involved with St. Mary Immaculate Conception parish my entire life. My doctors are here. I shop here. I go to church here. I do my banking here. My life is centered around the city. Making an impact in Lawrence through my Y work is very meaningful to me.”

After graduating college, she attended Northern Essex Community College.

“I didn’t take school seriously at that time. I left school and went to work in a factory for a year. It was a wake-up call for me. I knew I didn’t want to do that. I returned to school and studied early childhood education. I love working with children.”

She continued her education, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2008 and a master’s degree in 2011 from Fitchburg State University. The Y helped Mary Ellen on her educational path with grants in support of earning her advanced degrees.

“I appreciate that the Y values education and helped me reach my goals. I’ll never forget this.”

When asked what has changed at the Y over the decades of her involvement, Mary Ellen has lots to share.

“In our Early Childhood Programs, there is more focus on importance of early literacy. We work closely with Raising A Reader and Jumpstart and offer free books to families on Fridays. We offer PTO (parent teacher organization) meetings and monthly workshops for families through our Raising A Reader Program that covers topics such as rhyming lessons, dialogic reading, STEM activities and more. Food and babysitting are always provided.

“We offer swim lessons two mornings a week at our Lawrence Y and encourage 100 percent participation. Children come out of the program with the important life skill of knowing how to swim and be safe around water! There is lots of advocacy to support working parents and our teachers who continue their education in the education field. Currently there is free college tuition and free textbooks for all Massachusetts’ residents who want to pursue careers and return to school. This is a wonderful opportunity to provide the best early learning and Out of School Time experiences for our young students, as we know teaching staff are the most important part of all YMCA educational programs.

We currently have a teacher on board who begins Advocacy Training classes through the YMCA Alliance of YMCAs in October and many staff, parents and Y colleagues make important calls to local and area legislators to speak out on bills that support children and families.

“My favorite part of working at the Y is the impact that we make on others’ lives AND the impact that children and adults make on our lives. There is no other rewarding job that I would rather be a part of than my experience at our MVYMCA,” she said.