Lakeland Hills Ymca

THROUGH THE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE, WE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT STRENGTHEN A HEALTHY MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - OUR Y IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN. THE LHYMCA'S EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER PROVIDES A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR 107 CHILDREN AGED 2.5 TO 5. OUR AFTERSCHOOL CHILDCARE PROGRAM HAS SITES IN BOONTON TOWNSHIP, BUTLER, AND DENVILLE SERVING OVER 232 STUDENTS BY YEAR END. THE LHYMCA 2023 SUMMER CAMP SERVED AN AVERAGE OF CLOSE TO 500 CHILDREN PER SESSION, 1,726 CHILDREN ON A DUPLICATED BASIS. ADDITIONALLY, THE LHYMCA HELD MULTIPLE SPECIAL FAMILY EVENTS TO HELP BRING THE COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES TOGETHER, CONTINUED TO GROW OUR ESPORTS SPACE TO SERVE CHILDREN WHO COULD NOT DO TRADITIONAL TEAM SPORTS, AND EXPANDED OUR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) CURRICULUM TO ADDRESS BOTH PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN. IN 2023, WE RAN THE GRIT N SNOW PROGRAM, A SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM THAT USES SNOWBOARDING AS A FOUNDATION TO DELIVERY RESILIENCE AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AGED KIDS. OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER HAS PARTNERED WITH A BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST TO FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS AND IN 2023 WE LAUNCHED A VOCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

HEALTHY LIVING - THE LHYMCA IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING AMERICA'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME. WE BRING FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, ENCOURAGE GOOD HEALTH, AND FOSTERS CONNECTIONS THROUGH FITNESS, SPORTS, FUN, AND SHARED INTERESTS. WE KEEP MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF OUR MEMBERSHIP, INCLUDING GROUP CLASSES, STRETCH THERAPY, AND BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS. ADDITIONALLY, THE Y SUPPORTS THOSE WITH CHRONIC DISEASES INCLUDING DIABETES, ARTHRITIS, CANCER, HYPERTENSION, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, AND HEART DISEASE WITH DISEASE-SPECIFIC FITNESS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. IN 2023 WE LAUNCHED OUR WALK WITH THE DOC PROGRAM AND CONTINUED TO SUPPORT OUR ACTIVE AGING MEMBERS. IN OUR WATER SAFETY PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS, AND IN 2023 WE BEGAN SEVERAL NEW PARTNERSHIPS THAT INCLUDED DELIVERING WATER SAFETY SKILLS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - THE LHYMCA BELIEVES IN GIVING BACK AND SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS. WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST CRITICAL SOCIAL NEEDS FOR OVER 100 YEARS. OUR ONGOING ANNUAL GIVE A KID THE Y CAMPAIGN PROVIDES FUNDS TO DELIVER TRAINING, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT THAT EMPOWERS OUR NEIGHBORS TO EFFECT CHANGE, BRIDGE GAPS, AND OVERCOME HARDSHIPS. IN 2023 WE COLLECTED OVER 500 COATS FOR LOCAL SHELTERS, HOSTED PROGRAMS THAT ADMINISTERED 50 FLU SHOTS, RAN MONTHLY BLOOD DRIVES, AND MOBILIZED OVER 100 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO DONATE TOYS FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, DONATED OVER 80 ITEMS TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS AND HAD A SUCCESSFUL BACKPACK COLLECTION FOR PROJECT READINESS. WE HAVE PROUDLY CERTIFIED NEARLY 100 INDIVIDUALS IN RED CROSS SAFETY AND PROVIDED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL CORPORATIONS TO VOLUNTEER AT THE Y AND GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY. WE WORK WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO LEARN WATER SAFETY AND USE OUR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES PROVIDING THEM A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY ALONG WITH RESPITE FOR THEIR CARE GIVERS. IN SUMMARY, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ASSIST THE Y TO PROVIDE ACTIVITIES THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY AND PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.