YMCA offers something more important than exercise
Tiffany Foxx is the CEO of the Tuscarawas County YMCA. She and her staff are working on some new partnerships and programs they hope to announce soon.
It’s been nearly five years since Tiffany Foxx, a Massillon native who came to the area by way of the Greater Dayton YMCA, became CEO of the Tuscarawas County YMCA. When Foxx took the job, she also took time to understand what is important to Tuscarawas County YMCA members.
“I think every Y has its differences,” Foxx said. “I started my career in the Massillon Y. I was born and raised there and then ventured out with the YMCA of Greater Dayton, and the unique thing about the Y is that in each community their Y is a little bit different, and it caters to the needs of that specific community.”
Foxx also took time to understand the operations.
“I wanted to learn where its strengths and weaknesses are and then build a plan,” Foxx said. “Initially, there were a couple of the things that I knew we needed to do right away to improve our financial position and improve our cash flow so that we could afford to reinvest and improve the facility and some of our program offerings.”
One of Foxx’s other goals was to take care of some of the deferred maintenance and the aesthetics of the building. All the lighting was switched to LED with improvements to the main hallways and flooring among other projects.
Foxx would like to make the YMCA more appealing to members so the YMCA can continue to grow.
“We always continue to explore new program opportunities and to expand who we’re serving,” Foxx said.
Foxx is pleased the YMCA was able to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters on the creation of a satellite in Uhrichsville at the Claymont Intermediate School. The Twin City Youth Club satellite program occurs after school.
“It’s an activity program every day, Monday through Friday. We provide a healthy meal, and there are very specific guidelines to make sure that we’re meeting all of the components of the food groups,” Foxx said. “Then we do 30 minutes of physical activity, so that could be some games that get them up and moving. It could be they do exercise circuits. And then we’re also doing some nutrition education. We’re filling the gap of food and security, but we’re also trying to get them healthier.”
Participation at each YMCA program varies.
“The public (programs), I would say we certainly have a strong swim program. Our gymnastics team has really grown in the last couple years,” Foxx said.
Just like every other organization, the YMCA is still finding its way through the pandemic.
Before COVID, the Silver Sneakers program was held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with more than 80 participants at each class. Now the Silver Sneakers class is held every weekday to keep the groups smaller.
Extra cleaning to keep members safe is still occurring.
“We’re still cleaning high-touch surfaces on a regular basis. We still have our maintenance or custodial team here around the clock to assist with that, and every staff person has a responsibility every so often to wipe down and sanitize areas,” Foxx said.
The YMCA also has a small, designated exercise machine area just inside the main entrance for people who aren’t yet comfortable exercising without a mask. In other areas masks are not required, but if people are more comfortable wearing them, they are encouraged to do so.
With the pandemic hitting the family budget, the YMCA has a financial-assistance program for those who need help affording a membership.
“We anticipate that the need will grow, and United Way has stepped in to help us with that in the coming year, but we raise money every year with the annual campaign so that we can assist families with being able to afford a membership to the Y,” Foxx said.
People can join the YMCA any time of year, but the best time to join is in January when there is no joiners fee. Members can pay by the year or monthly.
Relationships are the most important thing members gain by joining the YMCA and participating in activities.
“When you start to meet people, there’s community. There’s a group that’s saying, ‘Hey, we haven’t seen you in a while,’ or ‘hey, are you showing up to class on Tuesday,’ or ‘let’s go out to eat Wednesday after we get done with class.’ It’s the ability to build relationships and community while getting healthy,” Foxx said, adding everyone learned about the importance of relationships when public spaces were shut down due to COVID. “When people couldn’t come in, they lost that connection.”
Though the YMCA is seeing more people coming through the doors than last year, they are still feeling the impact of the pandemic.
“We know that it’ll take a couple years to recover the number of members that we lost and program revenues, so we are doing our best to maintain and to do our best to make sure that we create a safe environment so people feel safe coming in,” Foxx said.
For people who would like to improve their fitness, Foxx recommends joining the YMCA but to start with modest goals.
“Make small, manageable goals so that you can have some wins and you’re motivated to do more things,” Foxx said.
From Silver Sneakers to gentle yoga, spinning, low-impact cardio, weights, gym, fitness areas, indoor swimming pools and drumming for fitness, the YMCA has something for everyone.
YMCA member Sheila Moore of New Philadelphia agrees.
“I love the Y. Everyone’s so friendly. I live alone, so this is my socialization,” Moore said.
Moore works out at the YMCA six days a week in the Silver Sneakers class, chair yoga and walking and credits the organization with helping her get back in shape. After retiring from teaching early due to an injury, she used the small, heated pool for two to three months and was able to get her health back.
One popular upcoming event is the Daddy, Daughter Dance on Saturday, Feb. 5 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The event is for girls age 3 through fourth grade and their fathers, uncles, grandfathers and big brothers.
Stop by the YMCA to pick up a 2022 program guide or visit the website at www.tuscymca.org. The YMCA is open Monday through Thursday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.