Rye Y Impact Newsletter - Spring 2021

COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWS SAVE THE DATE!

Sunday, June 13 Time TBD

Join us for Healthy Kids Day, a celebration of health, wellness, family and community with free family-friendly outdoor activities.

For more info, email Laura Kelleher at laurakelleher @ryeymca.org

A Newsletter from the Rye YMCA

Spring 2021

Rye Y Supports Working Families with Child Care Options As a single mom who works full-time, Chenai depends “101%” on the Rye Y’s child care programs for her nineyear-old daughter Alexia, who has thrived at summer camp, vacation fun clubs and in the Y’s gymnastics, swim, and licensed after school programs.

“She loves it so much,” Chenai recently told a Y staff member. “She has created relationships at child care and some of the moms have become my own friends too.”

2020 was a tough year for parents everywhere, but especially for single parents. With summer camp cancelled due to pandemic-related restrictions, Chenai felt relief when the Y announced a full-day child care program that ran from late June through mid-August. “I went from panic to celebration,” she recalled. “My daughter had been home too long, and being just us, it was affecting her emotionally as well as physically. She needed to be with...

Alexia and her mom love the Rye Y’s child care programs.

Story continued on p. 3

Rye Y Programs Help Adults Take Control of Their Health Chronic disease has been in the news over the past year as statistics show that people with underlying conditions are more vulnerable to COVID-19.

However, the Rye Y has helped adults prevent and manage health issues for nearly 10 years. In July 2011, we launched LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, a free 12week small group

program that helps cancer survivors regain their total health. We look forward to restarting LIVESTRONG at the YMCA as soon as it’s safe for survivors to return to group settings.

In the meantime, the alumni group is staying active through virtual classes.

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, also

started in 2011, is an evidence-based small group program for adults at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The current class is meeting virtually.

For information about these programs, and our Blood Pressure SelfMonitoring Program, contact Heidy Barros at: Heidy@ryeymca.org

Page 2

Dear Neighbors,

Message from the Director

Whether you’re new to Rye or a long-time resident, you have a place at the Rye Y. Every day, we welcome the health seekers and the athletes, the children who are here for after school programs, the seniors taking water exercise classes and the adults working out. Our pandemic-related closure last year was tough, but we rose to the challenge. We’re back with many safe in-person programs. And even when we’re virtual, we’re never far away. I invite you to drop by to see what’s new this spring.

And if you’re a Rye Y member, thank you! Because of you, we are here for good.. and for everyone.

All the best, Gregg Howells

Kids Flip for Y Gymnastics and Sports Clinics “Tess loves being back at the Y, doing gymnastics with her awesome coaches. All Covid-19 protocols are followed. I am so happy that she is back!”

- Parent, gymnastics clinic participant

By July 2020, four months into the pandemic, many children and their parents were beginning to go a little stir crazy. So it was a relief when the Rye Y was allowed to open summer small group sports and gymnastics clinics for ages 5-13.

baseball, whiffle ball, non-contact lacrosse, basketball, soccer, and racket games.

During the week-long clinics, which ran through July and August, young gymnasts honed their skills with experienced Y coaches.

Children in the sports clinics enjoyed tennis,

“The kids were so happy to see their friends and be active, even though they were six feet apart and wearing masks,” remarked Senior Program Director Melissa Lewis.

The clinics focused on skill-building and were capped at 12 participants in each session to keep everyone COVIDsafe.

And the action didn’t stop when the summer ended. Sports and gymnastics classes continued throughout the fall and through week-long Vacation Clubs during the December and February school breaks.

The Rye Y is currently running five-week spring basketball clinics along with our usual sports and gymnastics classes.

For more information, contact Melissa at: Melissa@ryeymca.org.

Walk with Ease Keeps Older Adults Active Walking may seem like an easy physical activity. But for many older adults—especially those with arthritis—a simple walk may seem daunting.

Arthritis Foundation.

Held three times a week, the Rye Y’s program is led by our community health staff, who start each walk around Rye with helpful tips and This spring, the Rye Y is stretching exercises. holding its second sixParticipants have been week session of Walk enthusiastic, with one with Ease, a small group group member saying walking program “By the end of the six developed by The

weeks I was able to walk almost a mile and a half.

Doesn’t sound like much – but before Walk with Ease a single block was almost too much for me.”

Walk with Ease is for all fitness levels and ages, not just those with arthritis. For more info, contact Heidy Barros at: Heidy@ryeymca.org

Page 3

Pauline Mosley Makes a Comeback at Rye Y “The Rye Y saved my life...twice!,” Y member Pauline Mosley says.

Last fall, the Pace University professor shared her inspiring story with the Rye Y. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, she joined LIVESTRONG at the YMCA at the recommendation of her doctor.

“I found a community of people like myself that were grappling with this dreadful disease and

trying to pick up the pieces of their lives to recover,” she recalled.

“The Rye Y was essential in helping me, not just with my health and wellness, but also socially, finding and connecting with other cancer survivors. I realized that in that program, in that setting, I was transitioning from a patient to a survivor.”

Pauline left the Y for a few years because she

needed a break from being reminded of cancer. However, when her doctor warned her that she needed to lose weight or risk a cancer recurrence, she returned to the Rye Y—this time to the pool. Over the past year, she has fulfilled a life-long dream of learning to swim, started taking water exercise classes, and has shed 60 pounds.

“My doctor is very proud

and I am very grateful for the Y and its caring staff for giving me a chance to regain my life again.”

Keeping Our Members and Staff Safe “I feel safe here,” Rye Y member Samantha Brout recently told us. “I would be confined to my apartment full time if it weren’t for the Y. It’s my lifeline.”

We’ve worked hard to make sure that Samantha and all of our members feel safe at the Y. Over the past several months, we’ve worked closely with

the Westchester County and NYS Departments of Health to develop detailed and strict COVID-19 protocols.

Our staff goes above and beyond to ensure that every area of the facility is cleaned and sanitized regularly.

We’ve upgraded our filtration system for

better air flow. Masks and social distancing are required and everyone who walks through our doors is subject to a health screening.

For more information about our safety procedures, visit www.ryeymca.org.

Chenai’s Story: Rye Y Child Care (cont. from p. 1) kids her own age.” Despite concerns about COVID, Chenai trusted the Rye Y. “I knew they would protect my child the best they could. I felt safe enough to release her to their care and it surely paid off!”

“My daughter and I are so grateful for the child care,” Chenai added. “The extra programs they do like swimming, yoga, cooking and

exercise in a fun way have had a huge impact on her development.” Calling the Y staff “angels in disguise”, she concluded “they always have my back.” **************** The Rye Y offers half-day, full-day and afterschool care during the school year. We are currently planning for

summer camp 2021. And watch for news about the expansion of our child care programs in the fall of 2021!

For more information about our youth, family and child care programs, contact Kathy Lynam: Kathy@ryeymca.org

H INC.

The Rye YMCA is a family-oriented community service organization which welcomes all people and promotes positive values through programs that build spirit, mind and body.

Rye YMCA

21 Locust Ave Rye, NY 10580 914-967-6363 www.ryeymca.org

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Discover our Virtual Y! 35 Zoom classes weekly plus on demand classes any time! Members only.

Y Cares Shows We Care The Y Cares Financial Assistance program allows the Rye YMCA to keep a powerful promise to the communities we serve: no one will be turned away from a Y program or activity because they can’t pay.

“Thank you all for the generosity you have shown to Scholarships allow children to join their me and my peers at camp, while membership subsidies family. My give individuals and families the full Y husband experience, often during difficult times. does not make much money and I Y Cares also supports programs that are not don’t work so I can be home to take self-supporting, such as LIVESTRONG at the care of the children. Having them be YMCA, Safety Around Water, free pool time able to learn how to swim has been for the Rye Association for the Handicapped, a Godsend and we wouldn’t have and more. been able to afford it if wasn’t for your kindness. Thank you!”

For information about financial assistance, contact Barbara Hughes at: - A Y Cares recipient Barbara@ryeymca.org.