This month, the Gleason Family YMCA celebrated its tenth anniversary in Wareham. Over that time span, it has grown to become an integral part of the community for thousands of residents and families.

“The time flies by. It seems like yesterday we were moving in,” said Lu Brito, senior program director at the Y and one of four staff members who have been in Wareham for all 10 years.

“The biggest thing is seeing how the kids have grown up,” Brito said. “That goes with Dr. Gleason’s vision, seeing how well the kids turned out.”

Laura Prisco, executive director at the YMCA, echoed that point during her speech at an anniversary event Saturday night. She spoke about Darren Gray, a 22-year-old counselor who was 12 years old when the Y first opened. She read a letter from a parent who said her daughter’s favorite part of the summer was having Gray as a counselor.

Prisco said that the Y has accomplished much in 10 years. There have been four major additions to the building, including expanding the gym and building the outdoor pool. There are more than 8,000 members at the Gleason Family YMCA. More than 800 kids participate in the day camp over the course of a summer and more than 500 children are taught how to swim every eight-week session.

But the most staggering numbers come in the form of what the Y provides for families in need.

“We are most proud of our ability to not turn anyone away regardless of their inability to pay,” Prisco said.

She said in the past 10 years, not counting outside funding, the Y has given out more than $1.7 million in financial assistance, $250,000 last year alone.

JoAnn Watson volunteers at the Y and has been involved since it opened its doors. She said the Y has been so popular for so long because of the relationship between the staff and the members and the staff’s ability to provide what the members want.

“In the beginning people said we were only successful because of the new building,” said Watson. “Now it’s old and the members are still there.”