For the first time ever, Gilroy is partaking in a nationwide annual celebration of healthy lifestyles for children and their families next Saturday.
Healthy Kids Day, a national YMCA springtime event, is locally sponsored by the Mt. Madonna YMCA and offers a plethora of free activities at Brownell Middle School that focus on active and wholesome living.
Highlights of the day will include Zumba dance classes for the whole family, bounce houses, sports challenges, raffles, face painting, martial arts demonstrations and a spattering of healthy snacks and non-sugary drinks.
The event, which will be held outdoors at 7800 Carmel St., is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 27. Volunteers are needed to set up and man booths.
The sports challenge is open to children of all ages and features a mix of athletic obstacles where children can receive points for making soccer goals, basketball hoop shots, completing potato sack races and more. At the end of the challenge, everyone who participates is entered into a drawing.
“This is the first time the YMCA will be doing this in Gilroy, and we’re really looking forward to it. We hope to have more exposure in the community,” said Rafael Arce, director of Healthy Living Programs in Gilroy.
The YMCA opened a Gilroy office on First Street next to Straw Hat Pizza in October, making a big step in their quest to open a permanent recreational facility in the Garlic Capital.
“Hopefully we’ll find interest with families to have a facility. One thing we’ve noticed is that Gilroy is lacking a place where the entire family can go to exercise and have fun. So that’s what we hope to do in the long run, is get the word out,” Arce said.
Arce said he expects to see upwards of 1,000 children and parents at the event.
“It’s a long shot, but we do partner with the Gilroy Unified School District, so we’ve spread the word,” he said.
The entire community is invited to partake in Healthy Kids Day.
“It’s really just a good day, a safe place to have fun and have parents get information to rethink what they eat and drink and make healthy lifestyle changes,” Arce said.
Also during Healthy Kids Day, children will have the opportunity to sign up for a list of various YMCA summer camps.
Founded in 1884 as the Young Men Christian’s Association, the nonprofit YMCA focuses on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The organization now serves more than 45 million people in roughly 120 countries.
