The Community YMCA Helps Families Take On Summer at Healthy Kids Day, April 30

Red Bank, NJ (April 21, 2016) - On Saturday, April 30, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., The Community YMCA’S Family Health and Wellness Center is hosting Healthy Kids Day, a free community event to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active now and all summer long.

“Healthy Kids Day, is all about building on the great qualities inside every kid. We’re offering a variety of activities for a day of creative, challenging, smart and healthy fun,” said Barry Martin, Vice President of Health, Wellness and Camping.

Healthy Kids Day is the Y’s national initiative to improve the health and well-being for kids and families. It was established in 1992 in response to alarming statistics that one in three U.S. children is obese, and when summertime hits, kids become more idle. Research shows that without access to out-of-school physical and learning activities, kids fall behind academically and gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year.

YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day will help parents get a jump on summer with ideas to help their children be active and achieve all summer long, Martin said. The Y will highlight many of its summer programs including day camp and swim lessons.

Families will enjoy a variety of activities including a basketball contest and kids Zumba at 2 p.m., face painting, henna tattoos, music, and games led by local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Graduate students from Rutgers will be on hand to help kids and families learn more about healthy food choices.

Healthy snacks and giveaways will be available and families interested in a healthy start to summer can sign up for a special three-month membership.

In addition, the Family Health & Wellness Center will be collecting non-perishable food items for Lunch Break’s Food Stock on May 14. Canned foods, rice, pasta, and cereal are all welcome.

The Y’s Family Health & Wellness Center is located at 166 Maple Ave., Red Bank, 07701.

The Y will also host a Healthy Kids Day event from 9 a.m. -12:00 p.m. at Camp Zehnder, 3911 Herbertsville Road, Wall, NJ, 08724.

Healthy Kids Day is supported locally by Hulafrog.

For more information, call 732.741.2504 or visit www.TheCommunityYMCA.org.

About The Community YMCA

The Y is a leading nonprofit charity that strengthens communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Community YMCA serves more than 20,000 residents in greater Monmouth County through programs such as: preschool, before and after school care, health and wellness, leadership, arts enrichment, personal and family counseling and summer day camp. With a mission to serve all, more than $350,000 in direct reduced and free membership fees and programs is provided by the YCares financial assistance program to individuals and families in need. For more information, visit TheCommunityYMCA.org.

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