Montachusett Community YMCA
Bill joined the Y just two days after moving to Fitchburg. He joined the Y for not only the vast array of fitness programs, but for the activities available for his children. The Y had everything Bill and his family needed from fitness classes to time spent at Camp Lowe. Years have passed and Bill is now a grandfather. He has decided that his grandchildren need the same Y experience. At 4 years of age, Bill’s granddaughter has her own membership and has begun swim lessons. Bill is passing on his Y experience to the generations to come and hopefully they will enjoy all the Y has to offer too.
Central Community Branch
… the Wellness Staff are offering “mini clinics,” quick 15 impromptu workouts for members in the Wellness Center to give them an introduction to personal training and group exercise. As a staff member recruited people for a clinic yesterday, he realized three women didn’t speak English (and he didn’t speak Spanish). The staff person found a solution in another member – who DID speak Spanish. He asked her to participate and translate, and she agreed. It was a win-win-win situation. The translating member (who wasn’t going to do the mini-clinic) did it and loved it; the members who needed translating were so appreciative and thankful for the attention – they were beaming; and the staff person made connections he hadn’t even expected. When the clinic was over, the members stayed together, talking about the classes and programs and are on the way to becoming friends. We’re for Healthy Living.
Greendale Family Branch
Our story this week is from our School’s Out Department. During a full day of care, last Friday, March 29th, we all witnessed a very unique moment as four boys bonded through a game of catch.
Brian Anderson was the first to observe the four boys ages 5, 8, 9 and 12 playing catch in the main gym. He watched as the youngest boy, Nicholas was struggling to throw the football back to the other boys. Before Brian had a chance to assist him, Kevin, the 9 years old, ran over to Nicholas and took the time to show him how to throw the ball properly. The other two boys, Jonah and Rome waited patiently while Nicholas was learning how to throw for the first time.
Once Nicholas was able to throw, all four boys separated once again, but this time they didn’t throw the ball to each other, but decided to only throw the ball to Nicholas to allow him to improve his catching and throwing skills.
When Nicholas’s mother came to pick him up, she witnessed Nicholas practicing his newly learned football skills. The mother was grinning from ear to ear as she explained to Nancy Boland how she is a single mother and that Nicholas has no male figure in his life. She was ecstatic when Nancy told her how the other boys took the time to show him how to catch and throw the football.
We are proud that these young School’s Out participants are showing the true meaning of “Caring” to each other. These young boys that helped Nicholas might not be able to comprehend the impact that they made that day, but we know that Nicholas and his mother will never forget it.
Boroughs Family Branch
We are for Social Responsibility… During Friday’s Cut & Color with Christie, more than 20 3-5 yr olds kicked off the Boroughs Branch “What do you stand for?” Flamingo Month of Giving for the Annual Campaign by creating fabulous flamingo crafts. The children designed natural, lush wetland settings, then glued on flamingos and thought bubbles reading “This is who I am and this is what I stand for…” Though the projects were creative and beautiful, the most interesting aspect was the response to “what do I stand for?” One boy in particular had an initial response of “sports” but when considering what he loves more than anything else his answer became “family.” Other wonderful responses included “playing outdoors with my mother at my house”, “God”, “my sister” and the comical response “popcorn”. Following the event, the children were challenged to tour the entire Y, every department, and find the 6 hidden flamingos…peaking from behind the Studio 22 bookcase, peering over the Aquatics director’s desk, big “Fernando the Running Flamingo” in the lobby among others! Parents, it’s time to purchase your flamingos! Last Flamingo Floating is coming!
