YMCA forms community partnerships to address obesity

(ROCKWALL-April 18, 2013) Our nation and our state have a growing obesity problem in adults and in our children.  27% of adults in Rockwall County are obese, 29% in Texas overall.  This compares to the national average of 25%, which is a horrendous fact in itself.  We also have a very serious problem with youth in our community being obese or at risk for obesity, or other adverse wellness issues such as diabetes, low self-esteem, heart disease and many, many other factors.

The best way we can raise healthy children, to grow up to be healthy adults, is to be a good example in front of them.  How we take care of ourselves and behave in front of our kids will be the most impactful factor in how they live their own lives.  We also need to have tools to provide our children with healthy options.  A family needs to have access to healthy food, know how to prepare healthy meals, have quality medical care, a support system, and much more.  There are so many factors that go in to living a healthy life.  We need to address spirit, mind, AND body to support healthy families from a holistic perspective.

We are very pleased to announce that we are coming together as a community to encourage healthy family living.  The JER Chilton YMCA Wellness Program, along with TrainUp, are partnering together to bring our community a much needed program.  We are collaborating with the support of other organizations in the community including Rockwall Soroptimist, Erin Atkins Insurance, Providence Place Bridal Shop, and Midsouth Bank.  They are donating resources and funds to kick off the four week program that will include a healthy meal at each session, goal planning, physical fitness information and medically supervised fitness training (through the TrainUp program), stress relief and relaxation, nutrition, meal planning and preparation and a provide a support system for families who have been referred through local health providers.  The program is set to begin May 7 and is tentatively planned to be held at the Soroptimist House.  We are looking for other community partners to help grow and expand the program.  Contact Liz Jones at ejones@ymcadallas.org for more information.

Health Kids Day, April 20

the JER Chilton YMCA at Rockwall will host Healthy Kids Day from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday April 20. We have four  bikes and helmets we will be giving away, Minute To Win It games (each child gets a chance to win the bike with each game), bounce house, free items, snacks and information on many local activities and wellness providers!  We will be giving away jump ropes from Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial who have been a supporter of Healthy Kids Day, our Partners Campaign and have donated countless materials and resources for various projects.

Liz Jones is the Membership & Wellness Director at the JER Chilton YMCA at Rockwall, located at 1210 N Goliad in Rockwall, TX.  Liz Jones can be reached at ejones@ymcadallas.org or 972-772-9622.

  community partnerships, jer chilton ymca at rockwall, obesity, Soroptimist, trainup