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The Newberry YMCA is working to grow with the community and provide more services.

A big change at the Y is the offering of a child watch program. Now members can bring children from the age of 6 months to 12 years to the child care room at the Y, while the parents workout, said Newberry YMCA director Eric Nelson.

The child care service is at no charged to the YMCA member, during the workout and is available from 4 to 8 p.m.

The service is in new of gently used items like toys, rocking chairs, area rugs, a television and VCR.

Also a noticeable change will that the entire YMCA will be painted using the new colors selected by the national YMCA.

The cardio room will also be updated, according to Nelson.

“We want to add value to a membership,” he added.

While adding value, the YMCA also hopes to offer more aerobics classes and include the price of the classes in the membership fee instead of having it as a separate fee.

The staff will also be trained in health and wellness issues and will soon be able to offer advice on combining diet with exercise.

And with the local Eat Smart, Move More effort the YMCA is partnering with others to put health and nutrition in front of the community to help make the people healthier.

A revamped after school program will bring in healthy snacks and exercise into the the program so that the program is not just acting as a babysitter once school is out.

With the new changes, Nelson adds, that the current sports program and swimming will continue to be a staple of the local YMCA.

But the Y will continue to move forward from its meager roots in a basement.

“The staff is excited to move forward and have stepped up to the opportunity,” says Nelson.