Nov. 20 – Dec. 2023 The YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties welcomes 2,631 individuals to their branches for free access to the YMCA in the 2023 “Here for Our Community” initiative .
With more than 5,000 total visits, community members improved their physical, mental and emotional health during what can be a very difficult time of year.
For the third year in a row, the YMCA has dedicated resources to help improve the health and well-being of our community during the winter holidays. At the time, the “Here For Our Community” initiative provided more than 22,000 free visits to more than 9,000 individuals, helping them connect with others to meet their social, physical and mental well-being needs. , we were able to interact.
“We wanted to be more active,” explained Lois Dornan, who visited Flemington’s Deer Path branch with her husband, Brian, during “Here For Our Community.” “You don’t realize how sedentary you are until you get up and start moving. It’s not that easy! The staff are very welcoming and friendly, and some of our friends are members of the community. So we joined in. Did.”
The Dornan family now visits the Deer Path branch throughout the week for introductory personal training and classes for active seniors. “This exercise is doable, but difficult,” Dornan continued. “[Instructor] Jill Waskiewicz explains how exercise can benefit us, including our sense of balance.
“It can be scary to walk into the gym with all the equipment, so a personal trainer can show us how to use the equipment effectively.”
As part of this effort, the YMCA has made its fitness center, pool, gymnasium, and classes available free of charge at all seven branches. Free virtual wellness was also made available to the entire community through Y Wellness, which is open 24/7. This virtual platform offers thousands of weekly live and on-demand health and wellness programs tailored to all abilities and interests.
“Studies have proven time and time again that loneliness is a major health issue in communities across the country, especially during the winter holidays,” said Zane Moore, president and CEO of the YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties. “It has been done,” he said. “Here For Our Community opens the doors to the Y and says come together here. We are here for you.”
