Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

C.W. Avery, Central City, Galowich, Morris, Smith

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Smith Family YMCA To Host Mobile Food Pantry

The Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry will be on site at the Smith Family YMCA from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 7. Free goods will be made available to low-income neighbors in need. Items will distributed on a first-come, first serve basis, while supplies last. Attendees are advised to bring bags or boxes for their groceries.

The event will also feature live cooking demonstrations with recipes based on the food available in the pantry. Recipe lists will be distributed to any interested individuals.

This event is sponsored by AMITA Health.

Eating Right: Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bars

A Healthy Recipe from Our Partners at Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers

Last week, staff from Morris Hospital’s Nutrition team visited the Morris Community YMCA and shared a healthy recipe and samples with members.  If you missed the opportunity to try this delicious breakfast bar, be sure to check out this easy-to-follow recipe to try at home!

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bar

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Yield: 8 bars

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cup oats, dry
  • 2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 3/4 cup applesauce
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 medium apple
  • 1/2 cup coconut flake

Directions:

  1. Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Place 1 cup of oats in a blender or food processor and process until the oats turn to a flour-like
    consistency. Add to a mixing bowl with an additional 1 1/2 cups of oats, cinnamon, baking
    powder, and salt. Stir to combine.
  3. In a separate bowl whisk together the egg, applesauce, vanilla, milk and honey. Pour into
    dry ingredients and stir until combined.
  4. Finely dice an apple and add to batter with coconut flakes. Fold into mixture. Pour into
    a baking dish and bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  5. Allow to cool slightly; cut into bars and serve.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA to host Volunteer Day of Service

The C.W. Avery Family YMCA is teaming up with its members, volunteers, staff and local businesses to host a Volunteer Day of Service on August 23.

Volunteers will be working side-by-side with Y staff to complete a variety of projects indoors and outdoors in advance of the YMCA’s busy fall programming season, including:

• Power Washing and Cleaning the Pool and Pool Deck
• Sanitizing Pool Equipment
• Power Washing Outdoor Spaces
• Landscaping Clean-Up
• Garden Harvesting
• Garbage Pick-Up
• Miscellaneous Administrative Projects
• And Much More…

Volunteer yourself or recruit a group of co-workers, friends and family to join you for a great day of teambuilding and giving back to your community! Volunteers must be 18 years of age.

Sign-up today by contacting Volunteer and Development Operations Manager Dori Fugate at
(815) 782-0502 or via e-mail at [email protected]

ORGANIZERS OF THE 2019 PLAINFIELD GIVING GALA DONATE $9,500 TO C.W. AVERY FAMILY YMCA

The organizers of the 2019 Plainfield Giving Gala have donated $9,500 to the C.W. Avery Family YMCA in support of its summer day camp program. This generous grant is one of several being awarded to Plainfield area charitable organizations using proceeds from the 2019 Giving Gala, which was held in February and sponsored by the Friends for Charitable Giving and the Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Pictured above (L-R): Ron and Kathy Kazmar, co-chairs of the 2019 Plainfield Giving Gala, present a generous grant to C.W. Avery Family YMCA Executive Director Lisa Behounek.

 

AMITA HEALTH TO OFFER PRESCHOOL SCREENINGS AT C.W. AVERY YMCA

AMITA Health will offer free preschool screenings at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24 and Wednesday, July 31. Designed for children ages 2 ½ to 5, these developmental screenings are used to assess preschool-aged children in the pre-academic areas of concepts, motor skills and communication. These sessions can help to identify if your child would benefit from additional services and provide insight into your child’s preschool readiness. 

All screenings will be conducted by a licensed speech language pathologist, physical therapist or occupational therapist. Screenings will take approximately 20-30 minutes and will be held on site at the YMCA. Representatives from AMITA Health will provide you with your child’s screening results and answer any questions you may have. 

Registration is required and can be completed at the YMCA, over the phone at 815-267-8600 or online.

Register Today!

Have Fun and Stay Healthy: How to Build a Child-Friendly Garden

YMCA summer camp is well underway and we hope your child is having a blast exploring and trying new things.  At summer camps in Plainfield and Morris, children have the opportunity to try healthy foods grown in the Y’s very own garden and take home recipes to share with family and friends.

If you are looking to continue the fun at home this summer, you may want to consider these helpful tips as you and your child spend time developing your ‘green thumbs.’

Pick a Special Spot in the Garden

As you begin plotting out your family’s garden space, consider designating a special spot within the space that your child can explore and have fun without damaging nearby plants.

Let Your Child(ren) Choose their Plants

There are many decisions to make when starting a garden, such as selecting the fruits, vegetables, herbs and/or flowers you will grow.  When determining what your family will plant, you may want to think about letting your child pick out what they’d like to grow.

Try this: When helping your child select plants, consider a theme such as a ‘pizza’ garden, which would consist of some of your family’s favorite pizza toppings and herbs.

Don’t forget about Herbs

Herbs are excellent choices for child-friendly gardens.  They are often colorful and have interesting scents, which will make it exciting for your child to watch as they grow.

Be Mindful of Poisonous Plants

Poisonous plants can be tricky, as some of them do not look harmful. The rhubarb plant, for example, is commonly used in dessert recipes, but its leaves are especially toxic. While gardening with your child, you may want to stress the importance of not eating food from the garden unless they consult with an adult first.

If you have questions about the Y’s gardens or weekly camp recipes, visit the Y’s website or be sure to speak with your branch’s Youth and Family Director during your next visit.

To learn more about planting a child-friendly garden, check out this great article, courtesy of HGTV.com.

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