2026 Sustaining Campaign

Warm greetings from YMCA Test Kitchen! Thank you for believing in our cause and our sincerest thanks for your support in keeping this amazing dream alive. Can you believe it has already been three years since our merger with the Fort Madison Family YMCA? We may operate under a different name than when we were founded in 2015, but our philosophy has remained unchanged — we continue to celebrate education, music, and great food and foster meaningful connections with the youth in our community.

We would not be able to positively reach the lives of so many students without our dedicated teachers and volunteers who share their knowledge and passions for our creative subjects. With their assistance we can reach hundreds of area children each year.

Our programs will continue to serve students from multiple socio-economic backgrounds, including students in challenging life situations. Due to your compassion and support, our staff can make YMCA Test Kitchen a haven for everyone who attends our programs. We remain steadfast in providing valuable and unique services that develop our youth not only academically, but as responsible, compassionate community members.

With your support, we will continue to grow our programs and serve every child who seeks assistance. Even though we are a program with the Fort Madison Family YMCA, we are solely responsible for raising our own funding to cover all costs associated with our operations. We receive absolutely no financial help from the Fort Madison YMCA, other than staffing and collaborating on thoughts and ideas — but our mission is still just as important as it's always been. We want to be here for years to come, but we need your help now more than ever.

YMCA Test Kitchen has become a household name in Lee County and surrounding areas. We have been lucky enough to serve this community for going on 12 years now. We have touched the lives of hundreds of kids who have come through our programs over the years, and we have watched them grow up to become successful in many aspects of life. We believe that being a "Test Kitchen Kid" sets you apart from the rest, because the kids who partake in our programs have bigger goals in mind, and they choose to continue their educational experiences outside of the four walls of their elementary, middle or high schools.

YMCA Test Kitchen has a lofty but attainable goal to raise $150,000 in 2026 to be able to continue our mission and to continue to offer high quality programs for our youth. Your generous financial support will allow us to strive toward a lasting impact on our area youth in the pursuit of their academic endeavors, and their overall quality of life. Your kindness will be etched within our history and the lives of our students for generations to come.

On behalf of YMCA Test Kitchen, thank you for your generosity and support. Let's continue to make an impact in our community for years to come.