January 2023 Board of Director's Newsletter

PICKLEBALL IS HERE! AVAILABLE AT METUCHEN & SOUTH AMBOY

In response to great demand, two of our branches, the Metuchen and South Amboy branches will be hosting Pickleball sessions! Pickleball hours at Metuchen will be Monday, 10am1pm for beginners, Wednesdays, 10am-1pm for intermediate players, an Saturdays, 9:30am-12:30pm for mixed levels. At the South Amboy branch, Pickleball hours are Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm. YMCA members play for free, guest passes are available for a minimal fee. Contact either branch for more details!

METUCHEN Y HOSTS JINGLE BELL JAM

The Metuchen Branch YMCA hosted their annual Jingle Bell Jam on December 2nd . Volunteers from the Teen Leaders Club and students from SEWA, a LEAD Program for high school students, were on hand to help out. Starbucks in Edison donated a basket and the Metuchen Fire Department came to visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

-ContributedbyAlexReisig

Santa visited the South Amboy Y on Sunday, December 18 from 12-2pm. Over 65 children enjoyed swimming with Santa (and their accompanying adults). Afterwards, there was hot cocoa and cookies to enjoy and even a bounce house. All of the children enjoyed themselves immensely!

-Contributedby MeliaParchman

A table commemorating the contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr. was set up at the Metuchen Branch. Members were encouraged to participate in the National Day of Service by filling out Valentine’s Day cards for local seniors.

-ContributedbyAlexReisig

YMCA BRANCHES HOST DONOR RECEPTIONS

In this season of gratitude, the YMCA said THANKS through multiple Donor Receptions. This was our way of thanking families for being active donors and allowed us to provide insight into the present and future of the Y. Donors are critical to our mission and vision in the community and we were happy to welcome all our donors for some refreshments, camaraderie, and to hear a few words from our President and CEO, Rose Cushing and Branch Directors.

Receptions were held in Metuchen, Edison and South Amboy.

-ContributedbyElizabethBennett/AlexReisig

LEADER’S CLUB MAKES SANDWICHES FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN CENTER

Members of the Teen Leader’s Club in Metuchen made sandwiches that were donated to the Women and Children’s Center in Newark. The Leader’s Club partnered with a teacher from Herbert Hoover Middle School for this endeavor.

A total of 66 sandwiches were built for the organization. We are so proud of our Leader’s Club and for all of the volunteer work that they do for our organization and other organizations in the community!

-ContributedbyGabriellaSt.Fleur

MISSED AN ISSUE?

All Board newsletters can be found on the YMCA website at http://www.ymcaofmewsa.org/ about-us/assocation-newsletter.

The Edison Community Campus, the country’s first collaboration between a Jewish Community Center and YMCA, celebrated its 20th anniversary on December 15th. In impacted the lives of so many in the Edison Community and beyond. Many came out to celebrate the

To celebrate the Community Campus’ 20th anniversary, the Edison Y offered a 20-minute Marathon FitFest consisting of the many classes offered, including Strong, Total Body, Pilates, Yoga, Zumba, Cycling and Restorative Yoga.

Rose Cushing accepts the Telly award on behalf of the Edison Community Campus. The Community Campus was named as the bronze winner in the category of online commercials!

It is with heavy heart that we learned of the passing of Lucinda Florio on November 15, at the age of 75 years old, just 52 days after the passing of her husband of 34 years, Gov. James Florio. Anyone who knew Lucinda will tell you she was a petite lady but with a super-sized desire to help her community. She made a great impact as a volunteer at the YMCA of MEWSA, serving on the Board of Directors for 25 years, as well as serving on several Committees and spearheading the Annual Support Campaign for many years. As a former public school teacher, she always had a soft spot when it came to children, and was first in line to advocate for children’s literacy and health programming. She was also a champion for women’s rights.

We will always remember Lucinda as a lady of grace and dignity, but also one of tenacity and strength, with a ready smile and a determination to tackle the next big challenge that lay ahead. We thank you for your many years of service to the YMCA of MEWSA. You will be remembered fondly by all.

Meet the Edison Y’s newest certified Personal Trainer, Pooja Oberai! Pooja holds a Bachelors of Technology, MBS in Biotechnology Management/ Marketing, and a post graduate degree in nutrition/dietician. Her focus is in personal training and exercise recovery, nutritional coaching, health/ wellness and life coaching, meditation and mindfulness and youth coaching. She is married and is a mom to two children. In her spare time, Pooja is passionate about running, reading, networking, and motivating and guiding youth and adults to quality of life. Her hobbies include cooking, reading Vedic literature, spirituality, traveling, music, empowering women, motivational speaking, counseling and conducting runs for all age groups. Pooja is available for Personal Training, Nutritional Coaching and Life and Wellness Coaching! You can also catch her teaching Women on Weights and Mind Gym on Saturdays.

Welcome to the team, Pooja!

UPCOMINGBOARDOFDIRECTORSMEETINGS

TOGETHORHOOD UPDATE

With 2022 in our rearview mirror, it’s time to report on the activity of Togetherhood’s Food Insecurity Program. It is important to note that in these difficult times, there are more and more families facing food insecurity. During this year, our team facilitated the contribution of just over 4,000 food items to the food pantry along with $534 in either cash or food certificates. We can all be proud of the efforts made and the families that were helped.

Lobby donations from our members, staff and the community, food collection contests run by Gabriella St. Fleur during summer camp, street food drives organized Marisha Wignaraja and Chrissy Tolley’s partnership with Sewa Diwali all contributed greatly to our ability to help. It is also noteworthy that food donations are at about 50% of the prior year and cash is about 25%.

More people are hungry, but sadly even more are tightening their belts. We can blame COVID, inflation and uncertain futures. We can sit back in sadness or we can feel pride in what our team was able to accomplish in these difficult times. We choose the latter.

In 2023, we will continue our efforts to help those who are in need. This year we will be proud of the efforts that we made. This year, knowing that there are families who had more to eat because of us we will smile.

Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the December blood drive collected enough blood for 58 life-saving donations. This brings the annual total to 343 donations for 2022! Once again, we sincerely thank everyone for their support and ask that you continue to donate in 2023.

New Jersey Blood Services reports that our YMCA/Together blood drives consistently meet and exceed their goals. Please help us keep this tremendous effort going. Blood Drives for 2023 are scheduled on the following dates:

• Sunday, 2/26/23 9:00 AM –1:30 PM

• Sunday, 4/23/23 9:00 AM –1:30 PM

• Sunday, 6/25/23 9:00 AM –1:30 PM

• Sunday, 8/27/23 9:00 AM –1:30 PM

• Sunday, 10/22/23 9:00 AM –1:30 PM

Tuesday, 12/26/23 2:00 PM –6:30 PM

If you wish to sign up to donate blood, please visit www.nybc.org/njdrive and enter sponsor code 15750. Enter the date range you wish to return to see results.

METUCHEN MEMBERS DONATE TO GIVING TREE FOR SENIORS

Metuchen branch erected a Giving Tree with members donating gifts for long-term care residents at Brighton Gardens of Edison. Gift ideas were attached to the tree and members and staff chose a tag and purchased that gift. Fifty-two gifts were received! The residents were beyond thrilled to be the recipients of such generosity during the holiday season!

Pictured l. to r.: ; Kristen Jimenez, Director of Sales, Lihan Hsieh, Yoga Instructor; Brenda Werneiwskei, Membership & Marketing Director, Metuchen YMCA; Elaine Defonseca, Director of Sales/Skilled Nurse

-ContributedbyBrendaWerneiwskei

MANTA RAYS HAVE FUN!

The YMCA’s MEYSABY Manta Rays swim team had some fun over winter break with a reindeer relay race! What a great way to keep fit!

PISCATAWAY Y CELEBRATES HOLIDAYS WITH SENIORS

The YMCA at the Piscataway Community Center was blessed to be able to participate in the senior’s holiday lunch at Sterling Village. This partnership also includes the YMCA Library and Piscataway Township. Over 125 meals were served to local seniors as they celebrated the holiday with community.

-ContributedbyKyleStrohman

Children from Harborview Early Learning Center made a special breakfast using strawberries,

A big thank you to Boscov Department Store for generously donating children’s clothing to the Metuchen YMCA for distribution to

The Edison YMCA gets a facelift! Repainting the seating area and putting some comfortable chairs in help members to come into the facility to relax, work or enjoy some social time

Edison Y personal trainers Pooja and Gary hold a Small Group Exercise marathon to get members motivated for the new year!

Preschool and Pre-K students from Edison Y Child Care Program and Bright Beginnings at the JCC decorated “20’s” that were used for the Community Campus 20th year anniversary celebration!

The Edison YMCA worked very hard on their bulletin boards to show members how the YMCA celebrates ALL cultures.

Staff member McKenna also created a community board, which allows members or small businesses to drop off flyers to showcase their work or talents to be displayed for Community Campus members to see. ContributedbyFatimaaRivera

On December 10th, the YMCA at the Piscataway Community Center held a food drive with all donations going to Radiant Church in Piscataway. Over 320 families were served, making this the largest food drive to date!

-ContributedbyDanielHontz

Four new council members were sworn in at the YPCC on January 1, 2023 to commence their four-year terms in Piscataway.

From top left: Michele Lombardi, Council President, Frank Uhrin, Council Vice President, Dennis Espinosa, Councilman Ward 2, Sharon Carmichael, Councilwoman, Ward 3

GRANT

On December 28th, the YMCA at the Piscataway Community Center’s Water Exercise family gathered to celebrate a year of fitness, friendship, fun and, of course, food. Thirty-four members joined the event for a lot of laughs and as they close out 2022 and look forward to another year of fitness in 2023!

-ContributedbyKellyMolinelli

Remember to purchase a Community Bag from the Stop & Shop in Piscataway and support the Metuchen YMCA .

Thank you to the Rutgers Chapter of the American Preventative Screening and Education Association for returning to the Edison YMCA to do free screenings for their members! The Rutgers New Jersey Medical School APSEA Chapter is comprised of medical and graduate students who focus on community awareness efforts in neighboring cities.

Screenings will continue to be offered every 2nd Monday of each month between 9 11 A.M.!