Y M C A Of Westfield N J

THE WESTFIELD AREA YMCA IS A NONPROFIT HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY IN THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL. WITH A COMMITMENT TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF CHILDREN, PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING AND FOSTERING A SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, THE Y ENSURES THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS ACCESS TO THE ESSENTIALS NEEDED TO LEARN, GROW AND THRIVE. THE WESTFIELD AREA YMCA IS ONE OF THE LARGEST HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN UNION COUNTY, NJ AND HAS PROUDLY SERVED MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, RACES, RELIGIONS, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES SINCE 1923. NO ONE WHO LIVES OR WORKS IN THE Y'S SERVICE AREA OF WESTFIELD, CRANFORD, GARWOOD OR MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ AND IS EXPERIENCING A BONA FIDE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IS TURNED AWAY FOR INABILITY TO PAY FOR PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND MEMBERSHIPS.

PROGRAM SERVICES: THROUGHOUT THE LAST TWO EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT YEARS, THE Y'S COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY HAS NEVER WAVERED. WITH SAFETY AS THE #1 PRIORITY, THE Y ADHERED TO ALL STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH GUIDELINES INCLUDING MASK WEARING, TEMPERATURE CHECKS, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SANITIZING, REOPENING PROGRAMS PRUDENTLY AND CONTINUING TO PROVIDE HYBRID OPPORTUNITIES. THE WESTFIELD AREA YMCA PROVIDES A RANGE OF STIMULATING, SAFE, DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. FULL AND HALF-DAY EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE IN WESTFIELD AND GARWOOD. ALL PROGRAMS OFFER A WELL-BALANCED BLEND OF SOCIAL INTERACTION AND SELF-DISCOVERY THROUGH FREE PLAY, ART, MUSIC AND LEARNING CENTERS. FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN IS AVAILABLE IN WESTFIELD, FOLLOWS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CALENDAR AND EXPANDS UPON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM. THE Y'S SCHOOL AGE CHILDCARE PROGRAM PROVIDES A FUN, ACTIVE AND NURTURING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL IN WESTFIELD, GARWOOD AND MOUNTAINSIDE. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED AT YMCA FACILITIES AND SCHOOL SITES. OVER 550 CHILDREN WERE SERVED IN 2021. FOR YOUTH, THE WESTFIELD AREA YMCA PROVIDES ACA-ACCREDITED SUMMER DAY CAMPS FOR CHILDREN, AGES 3-15, FOR ONE WEEK OR THE WHOLE SUMMER. THE YMCA'S SUMMER CAMPS TEACH POSITIVE VALUES, ENHANCE SOCIAL COMPETENCIES, INCREASE SELF-CONFIDENCE AND BOOST UNDERSTANDING OF BEHAVIORAL BOUNDARIES AND CONSEQUENCES. IN 2021, THE Y PROVIDED 757 CAMPERS WITH 2,605 WEEKS OF ASSET-BUILDING CAMP TOGETHER WITH AN INCLUSION CAMP PROGRAM TO MEET COMMUNITY AND SPECIAL NEEDS. FROM BASKETBALL TO TAEKWONDO AND T-BALL, THE WESTFIELD AREA YMCA'S YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS OFFER CHILDREN AN AVENUE TO EXERCISE, COMBAT OBESITY, SHARPEN SKILLS AND HAVE FUN. PARENT/CHILD, YOUTH, TEEN AND ADULT SWIM CLASSES ARE AVAILABLE, AS IS COMPETITIVE SWIMMING WITH THE DEVILFISH SWIM TEAM. OUTDOOR CLASSES WERE VERY POPULAR IN 2021, AND THE Y'S TRACK AND FIELD PROGRAM SERVED APPROXIMATELY 600 YOUTH OF ALL ABILITIES. IN ADDITION, APPROXIMATELY 275 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN THE TAEKWONDO PROGRAM, 260 PARTICIPATED IN THE Y'S DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPETITIVE DEVILFISH SWIM TEAM AND 200 PARTICIPATED IN T-BALL. WE ALSO PROVIDE AQUATIC LESSONS TO OVER 600 CHILDREN EACH WEEK. ALL TOLD, THE WESTFIELD AREA YMCA IS PROUD OF ITS ROLE IN HELPING THOUSANDS OF AREA YOUTH DEVELOP SKILLS AND LEARN SPORTSMANSHIP EACH YEAR. WITH THE GROWTH OF THE 55+ POPULATION, THE YMCA HAS ENHANCED ITS PROGRAMMING FOR SENIORS, OFFERING A VARIETY OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL HEALTH NEEDS SUCH AS ARTHRITIS, PARKINSON'S AND OSTEOPOROSIS. SENIORS APPRECIATE THE SOCIALIZATION OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED IN PROGRAMS AND CLASSES AT THE Y.

MEMBERSHIP: THE YEAR BEGAN WITH CAPACITY LIMITS AND A WORKOUT RESERVATION SYSTEM. YET, THE Y REMAINED OPTIMISTIC, PRUDENTLY OPENING FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS AS HEALTH GUIDELINES ALLOWED. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE Y CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A FOOD PANTRY DROP-OFF SITE AND PUT UP THE ANGEL TREE IN DECEMBER SO LESS FORTUNATE CHILDREN WOULD RECEIVE HOLIDAY GIFTS THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR MEMBERS. WITH MORE THAN 120 PIECES OF CARDIO AND STRENGTH TRAINING EQUIPMENT, TWO SWIMMING POOLS, A DOUBLE GYM WITH CLIMBING WALL, RACQUETBALL COURTS, FITNESS CLASSES AND A FREE-WEIGHT ROOM, THE WESTFIELD AREA YMCA IS A GREAT PLACE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO REACH AND MAINTAIN THEIR WELLNESS GOALS.