Waynesboro Area YMCA celebrates Healthy Kids Day

April 14, 2007|By JENNIFER FITCH

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Children dashed around the Waynesboro Area YMCA on Saturday, grabbing up freebies including pencils and stickers and, organizers hoped, bits of wisdom.

For the ninth time, Waynesboro joined other YMCAs across the country in celebrating Healthy Kids Day with free activities promoting healthy lifestyles and activities.

Amidst its ongoing construction effort, the Waynesboro Area YMCA offered an inflatable game, food, balloon animals made by clowns and giveaways at information booths. Firetrucks, ambulances and a fire safety house were open for exploration outside.

"We've gotten everyone from preschool and toddlers to older ones," child care director Tanja Koons said.

Materials and services available to parents covered a range of topics from nutrition to fingerprinting to YMCA programs. Dogs training for handicapped assistance and those available for adoption drew crowds in the gymnasium.

Peg Martin of the Waynesboro Volunteer Fire Department constantly was replenishing her display of rulers, pins and pencils.

"The kids just grab them," she said.

At the booth next to her, Kim Green of the Waynesboro Police Department was making a mental note to order more supplies.

"They took all my police badge stickers," Green said.

Green, who is certified to inspect child safety seats, used the opportunity to talk to parents about their children's transportation.

"I have someone calling me this week for a safety seat check," she said.

Jordyn Phillips and Natalie Williams emerged from the fire safety house together. While Jordyn primarily described the house as cool, 7-year-old Natalie, of Smithsburg, admitted it was a bit scary "when the smoke detector went off."

They learned "safety to get out of the house when there's a fire," said Jordyn, 6, of Waynesboro.

"Get down on the floor and feel the door," Jordyn said. "If it's hot, go out the window."

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