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Kimberly Benzan Named Chief Operating Officer of West Suburban YMCA

Newton, Massachusetts – The West Suburban YMCA has appointed Kimberly Benzan as its new Chief Operating Officer. Benzan was promoted to the role of Chief Operating Officer in mid-March and has been an indispensable part of the Y’s organizational response and management during the coronavirus pandemic.

Compose an Acrostic Poem

Did you know April is National Poetry Month? Here's a great activity for the whole family: Compose an Acrostic Poem!

West Suburban YMCA Helps Expand Food Pantry Delivery Service

West Suburban YMCA and Newton Food Pantry team up to make home delivered groceries available to more residents during the COVID-19 crisis.

Nature Activity: Adopt a Tree

Spring has sprung! With the weather getting warmer each day, it's is a great time to get outside and enjoy nature.

One way you can become more in tune with nature is by "adopting" a tree! Choose a tree to observe over time, deepening your awareness, understanding, and appreciation of an individual tree. Take a photo or draw a picture of the tree and write down your observations.

How to Make Homemade Play Dough

Hello Y families! Here's a fun activity from our Preschool & Family Services Director, Tricia Mansfield. Make some homemade play dough! All you need are a few simple ingredients.

Materials

Favorite Reads of the Y Community

Last week we celebrated Read Across America Week here at the Y!  YMCA members wrote down their favorite book and posted it on a wall in the lobby.  We compiled those favorite books into a reading list curated by our very own community.  

Picture Books

COVID-19: We All Play a Role in Keeping Our Community Healthy

For continued updates regarding COVID-19, please visit the Coronavirus Updates page.

Originally posted on 3/2/2020. Last updated on 3/6/2020.

Be good to your heart this Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! February is American Heart Month. Here are some tips to keep your heart healthy - in more ways than one!

Get Physical: Being physically active every day is fun and can improve the function of your heart! Find a friend to make the exercising double the fun!

Over 100 Volunteers Attend MLK Day of Service Event

Over 130 volunteers attended a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event at the West Suburban YMCA on January 20, 2020. The service event was a joint project between the West Suburban YMCA and The Second Step, with the goal of packing "blessing bags" for families and individuals who have been affected by domestic violence.

Anna's Story: The Chance to Participate

"My family moved to Newton three years ago when my husband took a job as a post-doc with a minimum NIH pay scale. At the time, we were still in the process of applying for permanent residence and I was not allowed to work. Since my husband is our only source of income, it has been hard to register our kids for activities.