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SUMMIT AREA YMCA

Meaningful Family Time at the Dining Table

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Hosting it’s second annual Family Dinner Project night, the Summit Area YMCA’s (SAY) Togetherhood™ Committee held another successful event to build community relations in conjunction with the Central Presbyterian Church (CPC). Families were invited through the SAY’s large network and this time, with the CPC connection. The goal of the Family Dinner Project is to encourage families to improve their family dinner time together.

Over the past 15 years, research has shown what parents have known for a long time: Sharing a fun family meal is good for the spirit, brain and health of all family members. Recent studies link regular family meals with the kinds of behaviors that parents want for their children: higher grade-point averages, resilience and self-esteem. Additionally, family meals are linked to lower rates of substance abuse, teen pregnancy, eating disorders and depression. We also believe in the power of family dinners to nourish ethical thinking.

Now, through this movement, families will come together to share their experiences and insights to help each other realize the benefits of family dinners together.

10 families came with their children to the CPC auditorium where Volunteers and 6 youth from Fountain Baptist Church encouraged games, crafts, and interaction. The family meal was catered by Tito’s Burritos in Summit.Togetherhood™ volunteers guided the children in creating and serving ice cream desserts to their parents while Reverend Greg Davis, of the Fountain Baptist Church and Togetherhood™ member, led the parents in conversation to find ways to improve their family dinner time together. It was a great hit!

For more information on the Family Dinner Project visit https://www.thefamilydinnerproject.org

Watch for ways that YOU can Volunteer for the Togetherhood™ at the Summit YMCA, visit www.thesay.org/volunteer

Learn more about the Togetherhood™ program at www.thesay.org/togetherhood


Our next volunteer opportunity to give back to the community will be on December 15th! the Summit Area YMCA’s Togetherhood™ program is partnering with Summit Helping Its People (SHIP) to offer our members volunteer opportunities serving and/or cooking meals to the homeless and less fortunate members of our community. For more information, click below: 

Holiday Cookie Walk Bake Sale – December 8 

Feeding Those in Need – December 15

 

For more information about Togetherhood™, please contact Lisa Meyers at
(P) (908) 273-3330 ext. 1186
(E) lisa.meyers@thesay.org

 

 

YMCA NEWS

SUMMIT AREA YMCA

BERKELEY HEIGHTS YMCA | SUMMIT YMCA | THE LEARNING CIRCLE YMCA

In 1886, we were founded as the Young Men’s Christian Association, but today, we are The Y; an association that values, and is made stronger by, its diverse people. We stand for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility — For a better us. We are committed to creating equal opportunity for all regardless of gender, age, disability, income, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive culture in which our four core values — responsibility, honesty, caring and respect — are integral to everyday operations.

Each year, as one of the area’s leading 501(c)3 charitable organizations, the Summit Area YMCA serves more than 15,000 individuals with our free and fee-based programs and services in an area spanning the New Jersey communities of Berkeley Heights, Gillette, Millburn, New Providence, Short Hills, Springfield, Stirling and Summit. Our history is rooted in working side-by-side with our neighbors to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Through the generosity of our members, donors, and partners, we are able to offer financial assistance for our programs and services to those in need.

Please note that the Hurst Pool at the Summit YMCA will be closed on Sunday, March 31, 2024 and will reopen on Monday, April 8, 2024 due to regularly scheduled maintenance. Group Ex Pro will reflect amended aquatics schedules.