“I joined the Y in January of 2017. I was employed as a clinical social worker in a psychiatric inpatient unit, and was fortunate to be able to take early retirement.”

“A doctor had suggested working out in the water to help ease the symptoms of my MS.”

“I started coming here as a member five years ago. In 2015, before I moved to Scotch Plains, I knew I needed to be healthier. I had hypertension and was overweight and I had to do something about it.”

“I joined about 18 years ago when my oldest was a baby. I was looking for a gym that offered babysitting so I could exercise. Over the years, the Y has provided my family with classes to meet our needs at every stage.”

“Two years ago, I was 43 years old and 398 pounds, that was my heaviest. I decided to undergo weight loss surgery, a lot because of my 8-year-old daughter Avery. I started thinking, how many 70-year-olds do you know who weigh 400 pounds? I didn’t know any.”

“After I retired, I came to the Y to work out. Someone suggested to me that I try the pool. I saw the older women in it and wanted to try. At first, I didn’t think it was possible because of my age.”

“I started coming here in August 2013 just to work out, not to mingle. Fortunately, a year later, I started mingling and going into the café.”

Never an “exerciser,” Darlene was pleasantly surprised by how good working out made her feel. “I never exercised, ever. I didn’t like to sweat. In the early 2000s when my kids were young, one day out of total curiosity, I decided to see if I could run a mile. I did it and then started running regularly.”

“We started coming to the Y in the summer of 2017. We moved to New Jersey in the beginning of that year. Morgan is a stay-at-home mom and started with parent and child dance and gymnastics classes, and Dave started with swim classes on the weekends.”

Six-year-old Virginia along with her 4 ½-year-old sister Eleni, has been part of our Child Care and Camp programs since she was a toddler. Their parents, Nadia and Kurt, explain what they enjoy about being part of our Y family.

Antonio, who is now 9, started with parent and child swim lessons when he was 6 months old. Over the years, he’s done swimming, gymnastics, Ninja Warrior, basketball, Young Athletes and T-ball.

Edwin is a longtime FSPY Member and Board Member who enjoys using our Wellness Center each morning. “My family moved to Scotch Plains in 2003. We had two children at the time – now we have three – and the Y has been an integral part of our lives since we moved.”

“My neighbor Donna (Peart) works at the Y and told me about the LIVESTRONG® program for cancer survivors. I started right after my last radiation treatment that August. I tried it, was able to get through the first two hours and I said ‘I can do this.’ I never missed a day the whole 12 weeks.”

Gayle is a longtime FSPY member who volunteers as a mental health advocate with the Here 2 Help Mental Health Coalition, which includes our YMCA. “I started here as a member in 1989 when my oldest daughter was 2 years old. All three of my girls took swim instruction here and were lifeguards here, and my younger two swam competitively at the Y as well as in high school and college.”

Raina, 6, and Sophia, 8 are sisters who have participated in a range of FSPY programs, including swim lessons, Tae Kwon Do, gymnastics, dance and camp. Dad Ryan and mom Sophia, look forward to starting the newest addition to the family, Ryan, 1, in swim lessons soon, too.

“My family and I started at the Grand Street location, the old Y. I grew up at the Y, my children went through the programs and so did my grandchildren.”

Alana is an FSPY member and fourth grader at Evergreen Elementary School who was asked to write a report on her favorite place in the community. “I chose the Y because it serves the community and I like places that serve the community.”