This is one of a series of stories about the nonprofit agencies that receive money from The Gazette/El Pomar Foundation Empty Stocking Fund campaign that runs through the holidays.

For Fred Culp, the YMCA is like a second home.

“It’s a nice community,” he said.

The YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region helps with crisis prevention and provides low- to no-cost memberships and programs to service members and their families.

Culp retired from the Army in 1995 after 24 years of service and began working in Harrison School District 2 as a counselor at Panorama Middle School. It was during this time that he started going to the YMCA every morning.

The habit continues today as Culp, now 63 and retired from his job at Panorama, still shows up to the YMCA every morning. Only these days, he stays for about 5 hours, working out with wounded warriors who opt for physical training at the YMCA instead of on Fort Carson.

“(The YMCA) would take more time with the wounded warriors and rehabilitate them,” Culp said.

Culp attends classes with the wounded warriors and helps them with technique.

“I’m like an inspiration to them,” he said. “Kind of like a motivation to them.”

In addition to working out with wounded warriors, Culp cooks a community breakfast – bacon, eggs and more – for about 40 soldiers on the last Friday of each month and serves them at the YMCA.

“I do that because I like giving back to the community,” he said.

Culp said there are classes for everyone at the YMCA, making for an atmosphere with great camaraderie.

“It’s like a social gathering,” he said. “It gets people out of the house.”