Although the Family Y has been in action at Camp Lakeside for a number of years, the agency has finally come to town, bringing with it a variety of programs designed to tickle the brain as well as get folks off of the sofa and moving.

Late last year, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Family Y to help the agency expand programming in the area.

Operating out of an office at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex, Brandie Reese, a Lincoln County native and resident, is serving as the program director for the county.

“The Y is a powerful association of men, women, and children of all ages and from all walks of life, joined together by a shared passion: to strengthen the foundations of the community,” said Reese.

“Though the world may be unpredictable, one thing remains certain – the Y is and always will be dedicated to building healthy, confident, secure, and connected children, adults, and families in Lincoln County.”

The Y has three main areas of focus: youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

According to Reese, “We nurture the potential of every child and teen through our youth programs. We improve the nation’s health and wellbeing with group exercise classes and other healthy living programs. And we exhibit social responsibility by giving back and providing support for our neighbors. Basically, the Y ensures that every individual has access to the essentials needed to learn, grow, and thrive.”

The program director went on to say that healthy living incorporates spirit, mind, and body. “I believe that God is honored when we are good stewards of what He has given us. Healthy individuals are confident and connected. They care for others and themselves.”

Anchored in more than 10,000 neighborhoods around the country, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise but to deliver lasting personal and social change.

Commenting on the expansion effort, Reese said, “The Y has been in Lincoln County for the past eight years, but we wanted to have a stronger presence here. It is not our goal to duplicate existing programs, but instead, we plan to offer additional programs to meet unmet needs.”

The programs include:

(1) Active Older Adult Class: Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Walker T. Norman Gymnasium at the recreation complex.

The class is designed to meet the needs of adults 55 years of age and older, helping them to maintain their health and functional ability.

(2) Strength Interval Class: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the gymnasium and Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Camp Lakeside, located off of Trulock Road at 1238 Dogwood Drive.

The goal of interval strength training is not to lift heavy weights and build massive muscles but to develop perfect form, work at full ROM (range of motion), and hit each muscle group using a different strength training method.

Typically, each interval strength training program will feature a set of 10-20 reps per exercise, with a one to two-minute burst of cardio in between sets.

Both of these classes are set to begin on Wednesday, February 1.

Those who wish to register for the classes may do so at the gym through Tuesday, January 31, or by visiting the following website: www.the familyy.org.

(3) Zumba: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:15 to 8:15 at Camp Lakeside.

Zumba Fitness is the only Latininspired dance-fitness program that blends red-hot international music with contagious steps to form a “fitness party” that is downright addictive.

The Zumba classes are on-going at Camp Lakeside.

The cost for all of the exercise classes is $30 for an eight-session card.

Participants with children should note that complimentary childcare is offered for children ages eight weeks and up. Space is limited.

For over 150 years, the Y has been changing the landscape of America.

In 1844, industrialized London was a place of great turmoil and despair. For the young men who migrated to the city from rural areas to find jobs, the city was a bleak land- scape of tenement housing and dangerous influences.

George Williams, then 22, a farmer-turned-department store worker, was troubled by what he saw. He joined 11 friends to organize the first Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), a refuge of Bible study and prayer for young men seeking an escape from the hazards of life on the streets.

Although an association of young men meeting for a common purpose was nothing new, the Y offered something unique for its time. The organization’s drive to meet social needs in the community was compelling, and its openness to members crossed the rigid lines separating the social classes in England.

Years later, retired Boston sea captain Thomas Valentine Sullivan, working as a marine missionary, noticed a similar need to create a safe “home away from home” for sailors and merchants. Inspired by the stories of the Y in England, he let the formation of the first United States YMCA at the Old South Church in Boston on December 29, 1851.

It should be mentioned that Father’s Day, basketball, and volleyball started at the YMCA – all because George Williams saw a need and tried to meet it.

For more information about the Family Y in Lincolnton, call 706-359- 2153.