FOOD & FUN ONWHEELSFeeding Program

You may have heard about our summer feeding program andeven donated your time and groceries to make lunches. Butdid you know that the Northwest Family YMCA fed children inour community at four different sites every day for 10weeks? These sites included an apartment complex in Kennesaw, an old neighborhood school in Acworth, a mobilehome park in Dallas, and transitional housing facilities in Marietta. On any given day, over 150 meals were served, and5-7 staff, along with teen campers and volunteers, facilitatedmany outdoor activities.

The lunches included food from Must Ministries, the USDAsite at Marietta City Schools, and from our amazing memberswho not only donated groceries to make the meals, but gathered to pack the lunches and even decorate the bags.

Our staff was building relationships with the children whileleading games, songs, crafts and other activities designed toget them moving and enjoy being outside. The kids especiallyliked flag football, parachute games, water balloons, a varietyof “tag” style games and crafts like marble painting and making bead necklaces.

Young leaders from our teen camp also benefited from theprogram, as they planned games and crafts and even createdlearning materials like alphabet flashcards for the kids.

FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT®

FOR HEALTHY LIVINGFOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

ALWAYS HEREFOR YOU

NORTHWEST FAMILY YMCAwcy.ymcaatlanta.orgwww.ymcaregistration.comwww.facebook.com/NorthwestFamilyYwww.twitter.com/atlantaymca

a newsletter for Y members and volunteers August 2014

SERVING OURCOMMUNITYMaking a Splash

Through a grant from Delta Airlines, ourAquatics Department was able to offer freeswim lessons at Lakeside Apartments in Kennesaw as part of our Summer FeedingProgram. Young residents of that apartmentcomplex were given 30-minute swim lessonsin the outdoor pool, led by our aquatics staffand volunteers. Children were given instruction on water safety, and went througha variety of activities to help them feel moreconfident in the water.

LABOR DAY HOURSFacility 8:00 am-2:00 pmMembership 8:00 am-1:00 pmChildcare 8:00 am-1:00 pm

ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU | a newsletter for Y members and volunteers

MISSION MOMENT

STAFF SPOTLIGHTTodd Carr

Todd has been employed at our Y since November 2009, when he started as a GymMonitor before we grabbed him for the Wellness Department. Todd does amazing workone-on-one with the members and in small groups with his TRX classes. He goes abouthis day with a smile on his face and does his best to make everyone's day a little bitbrighter. In addition to his "assigned" job duties, Todd is always willing to go above andbeyond in a multitude of ways (organizing closets, moving heavy strength equipment,pressure washing bars, etc). He has also proved to be extremely valuable in emergency situations.

Dinka Romano

Dinka has been caring for our youngest members for over 10 years. Children and theirparents look forward to being greeted by “Ms. Dinka” every morning at the nursery desk.She loves working with children and says that even when the nursery is very busy that itdoes not feel like a job. “The more kids, the better!” She could not imagine working any-where else. Dinka lives with her husband and two children, both in high school, in theneighborhood adjacent to the YMCA. When members and staff were stranded at the Yduring the snowstorm earlier this year, Dinka invited them all to walk to her home, whereshe fed them and gave them a place to sleep. One of the members, who was three yearsold, still likes to remember “the party at Ms. Dinka’s house.”

Back to School Bash

Young residents of the Woodland Falls communityin Smyrna were treated to a Back to School Bashas the YMCA teen leaders club brought the fun totheir backyards. Along with our teen director,Brandon Herder, the teens gave the kids an end ofthe season party as they set up inflatable bouncehouses, led games, set up craft stations and provided dinner. Then it was time to look ahead toa new school year; each of the 60 children received a new backpack fully stocked with schoolsupplies. Our teens were thrilled to put smiles onthe children’s faces and help them start off thenew school year on a very positive note.

UPCOMING EVENTSSaturday, Aug. 23.......................Middle School Night Saturday, Sept. 13.................Parents’ Night OutM-F, Sept. 15-19........................School’s Out Camp Friday, Sept. 26......................Family Mystery Night