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YMCA Announces Virtual Wellness Platform Through A Regional Collaboration

Posted on Updated on by Ashley Shannon

Reading, PA – The YMCA of Reading and Berks County is proud to announce a new online wellness platform to benefit their members and the community. On January 20, the YMCA of Reading and Berks County launched Y Wellness 24/7, providing live and on-demand group exercise, and sports and play programs online, free to their members. Over 150 live classes and 100s of new on-demand classes led by over 120 nurturing and motivating YMCA instructors will be available weekly. The platform also provides access to 1000s of additional on-demand classes from leaders in the fitness industry nationwide.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in mandated closures and strict safety protocols, the need for outstanding virtual wellness offerings has been on the rise.

Recognizing this need in our communities, Y Wellness 24/7 is the result of a collaboration among 29 YMCA associations from throughout the northeast United States. Involved in the partnership are many Pennsylvania YMCAs including those in Bloomsburg, Bucks County, Lancaster, Lebanon Valley, York and York County as well YMCA of the North Shore and YMCA of the Twin Tiers in Massachusetts and New York respectively.

Y Wellness 24/7 provides live and on-demand classes in training, mindfulness, nutrition, and stress management. With the collaboration, YMCAs are able to serve youth, adults and seniors through a variety of class formats such as strength training, cardio, kickboxing, cycling, Tai Chi, yoga, dance, bootcamp, balance, core and more.    

“We are so pleased to partner with YMCAs from across the northeast region,” said Alyssa Bushkie, Director of Operations of the YMCA of Reading and Berks County. “By working together we are able to meet the needs of our members across the region by offering more classes and a greater variety of classes.”

Since the March pandemic shut down, the Y has made it their mission to meet community needs in new ways. The creation of this virtual wellness platform is another step toward serving YMCA members from across the region.

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The mission of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County is to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. For over 160 years we have been the heart of the community we serve. The Y is a cause-driven organization that is for youth development, for healthy living and for social responsibility. That’s because a strong community can only be achieved when we invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. The Y so much more.

BB&T Lighthouse Project Donates to Reading YMCA Housing Programs

Posted on Updated on by Ashley Shannon

Reading, PA – The residents of the Reading YMCA will have a very happy holiday season thanks to BB&T, now Truist.

The BB&T Lighthouse Project has donated a variety of goods to the Reading YMCA Transitional Housing and Recovery Programs, including winter clothing, personal hygiene products, housewares, toys for children, and even a refrigerator and freezer. The donations total over $9,000 and were compiled by BB&T employees and sent to the Reading YMCA the week of December 1.

“We do all kinds of projects for nonprofits,” says Eric Crawford, Branch Leader and Vice President of the Kutztown Branch “from planting flower beds to full construction projects. You name it, we’ve done it… this is just our way of giving back and staying in the communities we serve.”

The BB&T Lighthouse Project was founded in 2009. Over the past ten years, they have completed more than 12,000 community service projects and have served over 18 million people in need in our communities. 

“We are very grateful to the BB&T Lighthouse Project for selecting the YMCA as this years’ service project.  The donation of personal items will have an immediate impact for those individuals who need a little extra support this time of year and the larger appliances will add to the overall program quality for our residents,” said Ken Borkey, Jr., Vice-President of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County. “The YMCA is appreciative for businesses like BB&T that support local non-profits and give back to the communities they serve.”

“We appreciate this so much and we know our residents will, too,” added Jami Geist, Executive Director of Social Services for the Reading YMCA. “This year has been really hard for everyone, but especially so for our residents.”

The Reading YMCA houses men, women, and women with children who are struggling with homelessness, substance abuse, or mental health disorders. All individuals in these programs work towards achieving self-sufficiency, financial stability, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The facility has over 150 beds and provides over 49,380 bed nights per year.

“‘We at BB&T, now Truist, are proud to be able to support such a worthy organization as the YMCA which does so much for our community and the people it serves,” said David C. Roland, Market President for Truist. “Truist has as its purpose to ‘Inspire and build better lives and communities’ and we hope this donation is a small representation of that purpose.”

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The mission of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County is to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. For over 160 years, we have been the heart of the community we serve. The Y is a cause-driven organization that is for youth development, for healthy living and for social responsibility. That is because a strong community can only be achieved when we invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. The Y so much more.