YMCA Anthony Bowen Is Changing Lives
In the spring of 2004, we began the Physical, Healthy & Driven (PhD) Program here at YMCA Anthony Bowen to get children more active and address the health issues related to childhood obesity. We knew the program would help the children become more physically fit, but we didn't realize all of the areas where we could make an impact. As we started testing the children at the beginning of the year, the PhD Coordinator had an opportunity to talk to two 13-year-old girls in the program. One of the girls had just had a blood pressure reading of 140/110. As they talked, they told him about the junk food they got at the school vending machines and the fact that they usually got dinner from the Chinese takeout place or Subway.
Seeing a teachable moment, he asked them to build a healthy sandwich at Subway. In building their healthy sandwich, they ordered a cold cut trio with white bread covered in mayonnaise and didn't put any vegetables on their sandwich. When he pointed this out to them, they told him that they put two bags of potato chips on the sandwich to count as their vegetable. He also informed them that even though Subway uses turkey products, most cold cut trios are cured with salt since they are made of pork. The girls told him that bologna, salami, and ham weren't pork products.
These are the types of ways that the YMCA is able to make a meaningful and long-lasting change in the lives of the children we serve. He was able to walk them through making a healthy sandwich that included multi-grain bread, no fattening condiments, low-fat meats, and true vegetables. While the girls were reluctant to try something new, they had a grilled chicken sandwich the way he suggested and they told him that it was actually good. As of the last reading, the girl with the high blood pressure had decreased her reading by several points.
YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase Is Changing Lives
Dear YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase,
I want to thank you for truly saving my life! I have lost 80 pounds since December. Without the generosity of all who support the Scholarship Fund, this opportunity would not have been possible for me financially or physically.
I am a 43-year-old woman who suffers from fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and degenerative joint disease. As a child, I was a gymnast and worked out at the Y. My children, two boys, are now 22 and 17. I placed them for many years in the Y's swimming lessons.
When I received the call this year to let me know I would be able to become a member for one year with a scholarship, it was the best day and news I'd received all year! I was so excited and nervous. I wasn't sure what I was allowed to participate in. When I came in the first day, I was given a packet and told that I was a Full Privilege member. I couldn't believe it.
Since that day I have made so many friends. I have been treated with the utmost respect. I have taken several classes. I now have 60 pounds to go to meet my comfortable target weight. I hope that I may receive a scholarship this year, especially since I have 60 more pounds to lose.
The quality of my life has become so much more rewarding with this privilege. I would like to give back when I am able to volunteer to help with the children as I ran day care for thirteen years and I have many college credit hours. Or should help be needed in other areas. I would be more than happy to do so.
In conclusion, I would like to say that this experience has restored my faith in the goodness of people, community, and a great sense of belonging! I also wanted to mention how accommodating the Y has been to me and others with physical disabilities, with its floating steps to help get into the water should you not be able to use the ladder, handicapped-accessible bathroom and shower, and strong hand rails at each step at shower and pool entrances.
With the warmest of hearts, I could never thank you enough for what I call the waters of life that are truly restoring mine.
Love to all the Y community,
Ms. Donna L. Verrill
