During the civil war, there were about 5,000 volunteers from YMCAs that acted as surgeons and nurses to assist President Lincoln. Many services were offered during this time of war such as donations for medicals supplies and food, and tutoring soldiers in reading and writing. YMCAs soon started offering programs to promote speech, sportsmanship, and scholastic achievement while teaching Christian values. These programs eventually grew into the higher levels of education that helped enlighten unemployed people so that they could find better jobs. During the late 1800s the YMCA invented the sports volleyball and basketball in their winter