The YMCA of Callaway County is offering free Y-Fit classes Saturday morning to promote the launch of new music tracks and exercise routines for instructing several popular national fitness programs. The YMCA encourages class attendees to bring a small assortment of hygienic items that will be collected for SERVE, Inc.
YMCA instructors will lead step aerobics and Zumba fitness classes, and will introduce the launch of new tracks for body-combat, a cardio-conditioning class, and bodypump, which focuses on low weights and high repetition.
Beth Oserof, with the Callaway YMCA membership services, said the YMCA offers free Y-Fit lasses when new tracks for bodycombat and bodypump are released every few months.
"We have lots of different times available for people to take the classes, but it's a really great time for everyone to get together and do it," Oserof said. "People who have maybe fallen out of it use this as a time for re-motivation and to get back into it."
Oserof said free Y-Fit classes always attract a considerable turnout, especially from regular program participants, adding that most people who try the classes really enjoy them and often return.
Both YMCA members and non-members can attend any class for free one time regard- less of the day of week, Oserof said. For non-members, there's a drop-in fee or they can pay an annual fee exclusively for Y-Fit class participation without reg- istering for a membership, and there is a different fee for members.
As a special promotion for October, the YMCA will waive the membership enrollment fee if the person donates two or more toiletry items for personal hygiene to benefit SERVE, Inc.
Steve Mallinckrodt, executive director for SERVE, said the Callaway County YMCA has assisted with several SERVE food drives
in the past, and the YMCA's October promotion will help address a community need for hygienic products.
"Different organizations and people in the area have become aware of our needs and what we do and provide for the community," Mallinckrodt said, explaining the extent of Fulton's community outreach. "So sometimes it's kind of a mutual idea or they'll call with, "We want to help; what can we do?; what do you need?"
He said "any and all" hygienic items are appreciated, especially soaps, shampoos, deodorants and diapers, which the organization has identified as much-needed items. When available, toothpaste, toothbrushes, Band-aids, antibiotic creams or any other health-related items are also helpful.
"Hygiene items are something that are lacking that we get a lot of requests or see a need for, and so this is very beneficial to what we're able to provide," he said.
According to the advertisement flyer for the free Y-Fit classes, all participants must be 15 years old or older, and free childcare will be offered for children ages eight and under from 8 a.m. to noon.
Attendees are not required to bring a donation item to participate in the group classes, but Oserof highly encourages it.
The hygienic items collected at the Callaway YMCA in October will benefit families that visit the food pantry, Mallinckrodt said.