Maple Syrup Day

At 87 years old, Del Laughlin still walks through the doors of the Superior Douglas County Family YMCA nearly every day. Del grew up in Spooner, Wisconsin, and moved to the area in 1960 for work. It wasn't long before he found his way to the YMCA. In 1969, he joined through a program called Indian Guides—a father-and-son initiative for boys aged 4 to 6.

Jerry came to the Y in November 2023 because he had recently retired and was interesting in spending some of his newfound time volunteering. He quickly became a volunteer extraordinaire logging more than 280 hours in 2024. Just in case you are wondering, that is the record! Jerry has been an incredible gift to our Volunteer Coordinator, the Y, and the many people whose lives he has touched these past two years. We hope you see a little bit of yourself in Jerry and that he inspires you to join us.

YMCAs around the world continue to be guided and strengthened by dedicated volunteers. As we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month this April, we extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible individuals who give their time, energy, and passion to help the Duluth Area Family YMCA fulfill its mission of strengthening community in northern Minnesota.