Palo Alto Family Ymca Partners With Local Organizations To Bring The Community Together And Help People In Need

Online, November 20, 2009 (Newswire.com) - The Palo Alto Family Ymca announced today that in an effort to help those in need, it is hosting a variety of seasonal community events which will provide assistance to local organizations and benefit the community. These activities, which will also bring families and friends together, begin today, and run through the second week of December.

"We know that this year, the need for donations from our local community partners is more crucial than ever before," said Scott Glissmeyer, Executive Director of the Palo Alto Family Ymca. "We hope that by rallying together volunteers and willing neighbors to come out and participate in our upcoming free events, that we can both bring together family and friends, while really making a difference to those in need this holiday season."

Beginning today through mid-December, the Palo Alto Family Ymca, located on Ross Road in Palo Alto, invites local residents of all ages to come to its facility and participate in a variety of activities and special events planned to join family and friends together while benefitting the Second Harvest Food Bank, Palo Alto Veterans Hospital, and Family Giving Tree. All events are free, with a donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank encouraged.

The Thanksgiving Potluck Social will be held this Friday, November 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Ymca will provide the turkeys and some fixings. Attendees should bring a potluck dish to share, along with their own utensils, plates and cups to help the Ymca be more "green." This event is free, but a monetary or food donation is encouraged to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank. Participants are encouraged to bring along a friend or two to help share the joy of a festive Thanksgiving dinner.

Also benefitting the Second Harvest Food Bank, the annual Spirit of Sharing Workout for a Cause will take place at the Palo Alto Family Ymca Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving), from 8-10 a.m.
Participants can work out before they feast with the option of taking one of several free group exercise classes, as well as free access to the Wellness Center, the gym and the indoor pools. A food or monetary donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank is requested for entry to this event.

"Thanks to the Palo Alto Family Ymca and its members for their continued support to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Their efforts allow us to continue to meet the growing requests for food assistance in our community," said Lynn Crocker Director of Marketing and Communications.

Beginning November 27 through December 14, the Palo Alto Family Ymca will be collecting gifts for The Family Giving Tree, to provide a present for every child, adult and senior who has asked for one. The giving tree will be displayed in the lobby with cards attached to it, and interested parties can take one or more cards and purchase the gift listed on the card, returning the gift unwrapped to the Ymca, with the card attached. The Ymca will also have blank cards available if individuals would prefer to write a check or give a gift card. To donate to The Family Giving Tree online, visit www.thefamilygivingtree.org. On the website, it can be indicated that the gift is being made as part of the Palo Alto Family Ymca drive.

On Thursday, December 10, the Holiday Card and Cookie Making Social will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. where participants will create cards and decorate cookies to be donated to the patients at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital. Last year more than 200 cards and dozens of cookies were contributed through this event. Card-making supplies will be provided. It is asked that attendees bring either cookie dough to bake or already baked cookies to donate. Sugar-free cookies are preferred.

"VA so appreciates efforts by the community to reach out to veterans," said Kerri Childress, spokesperson for the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. "More importantly, the veterans appreciate knowing that they have not been forgotten and that people still care about them. On behalf of the nearly 58,000 veterans who receive their care from VA Palo Alto, I say thank you to the members and families of the Ymca for your time and consideration."

All of these seasonal community events hosted by the Palo Alto Family Ymca encourage families and friends to get together and enjoy good times, food and company during this season of sharing, while helping out other local organizations.

Additional information on these activities and more can be found at http://www.ymcasv.org/paloalto/. For more information on the Palo Alto Family Ymca and to RSVP for any of these seasonal activities, please contact Diana Turner, Group Wellness Director at [email protected] or (650) 842-7157. For all media inquiries, please contact Tina Casalino at [email protected] or 650-842-2792
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