Category: Social Responsibility

The YMCA challenges you to participate in our new monthly #HealthyHabit challenges to keep our community active, mindful, and happy!

Our November Challenge: Get Involved in Your Community!  

Community is vital to our culture. Whether you realize it or not, the people around you influence your attitudes and everything you do! 

When you engage with your community, you can: 

• Discover new interests 
• Participate in local events 
• Meet new people 
• Feel a sense of belonging 

Do you feel out of touch with the people around you? During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people experienced a loss of company, activities, and connections. Now is the time to rebuild our community! We challenge you this month to immerse yourself in our area. Communities can come in the form of volunteer, professional, hobby-based or even religion-based groups. There are always ways to meet people with similar interests, and here along the Grand Strand, the opportunities are endless. Whether your goal is to meet new people, try new things, or just have something to do, check out our tips and tricks to get involved! 

8 Tips and Tricks to Get Involved 

1. Join a Facebook group. One of the main reasons why people neglect their community is due to a lack of knowledge. You might want to get involved, but don’t know where to start. Joining a Facebook group can help you stay connected to those around you and stay updated on upcoming local events. Try searching “Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Georgetown SC Events” on Facebook and see what you can find! 
2. Donate. Donating your food, clothing, or products is a rewarding way to stay involved in your community. There are so many people around you that are in need, and you might never know! If you are fortunate enough to donate your belongings or money, you are making a huge impact on the people around you. And, it will feel so good knowing you are making a difference. We are currently collecting swimsuits and towels for second-graders participating in our Safety Around Water program.
3. Attend a local sporting event. What is a universal group that can always bring a community together? A team. The Myrtle Beach/Conway area has plenty of local teams, such as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Cheering for a team with your community and celebrating their wins is such a memorable experience. Plus, there is nothing better for a player to see than a packed stadium full of supportive fans. 
4. Shop at a local store. Supporting your community’s small businesses is incredibly important in keeping its culture alive. Instead of shopping at a chain store or eating at a commercial restaurant, try out the unique products and services of something local! By shopping locally, you are helping that business stay alive as well as receiving the personal touch of dedicated people in your community. 
5. Take a group exercise class. One fun way to meet new people is at the YMCA! Our group fitness classes are a great way to not only stay healthy, but meet new people!
6. Volunteer. Volunteering makes the world a better place. The best part, however, is that it has an immediate impact specific to your area. Whether you volunteer at an animal shelter, retirement home, or a soup kitchen, investing your time in those around you it vital to keeping a community alive and cared for. This is a great way to meet new people and form meaningful bonds. 
7. Go to a cleanup. Not only do you want to be proud of the people in your community, but you want to take pride in how it looks as well. Organized community service is a fantastic way to keep the community looking shiny and new. Cleaning up trash and litter keeps the environment healthy. Through cleanups, you can also meet all the other people who are just as dedicated to their community. 
8. Join an adult recreational league. Sports are not just for youth and professionals! Staying active is fun and important. When you join a team, you are investing time and effort in those around you are forming meaningful relationships. Competition brings people together! Check out the adult soccer league our YMCA has to keep adults involved! 

When you put effort into your community, the benefits are endless. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it! Keep your community clean, happy, and healthy by participating in the November #HealthyHabits challenge! 

The YMCA of Coastal Carolina hosted our annual Fore the Kids fundraiser at Top Golf Myrtle Beach on October 20, 2022. Teams of six enjoyed a fun evening with food, drinks, silent auction, and a Top Golf tournament! Thank you to our sponsors and donors for helping us reach our fundraising goal!

Impact Teams included:

• Bellamy Law Firm
• Brittain Law Firm
• Dargan Real Estate
• Doxa Church Party
• Golf Trek
• Keller Williams
• Keystone Commercial Realty
• Matrix Fitness
• Movement Mortgage
• Spann Roofing
• The Jackson Companies
• Waccamaw Dermatology

Proceeds support the Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA.

Your participation in our any of our fundraisers provide financial assistance for families to join the Y, learn to swim, participate in youth sports, and have a safe space for kids to learn and grow at our After School and Summer Camp programs.

Find your reason to give

Everyone has access to the YMCA thanks to donor support. Safe spaces for kids to learn and grow. Outreach to seniors who are feeling isolated. Opportunities to get moving and experience the joy of better health. We do not turn anyone away for membership or any of our programs due to financial assistance. These are just a few of the many reasons to give to the Y. Help us support our mission to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. 

At the Y, we connect people to a greater sense of purpose and to each other to make our community stronger.

Tidelands Health Pawleys Family YMCA hosts three events for the community: Sweat for the Cure, Trick or Treat, and a blood drive.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29th

• Sweat for the Cure is on Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31st

• Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Trick or Treat from 5 -7:30 p.m.

Tidelands Health Georgetown Family YMCA presents a Lunch and Learn opportunity on Wednesday, November 2 from 11:30am – 12:30pm. 

Mr. Fred Thomas, a YMCA member and Medicare specialist, will be on hand to present “Understanding Medicare: How Medicare May Pay for Your YMCA Membership.” 

Mr. Thomas will spend time comparing Medicare and Medicare Advantage and answer any questions for those in attendance.  This is a free offering, and the YMCA will provide a light lunch.  

Space is limited to the first 30 guests to sign up, so please RSVP to [email protected].  

The event will be held in Group Exercise room 2 at the Tidelands Health Georgetown Family YMCA located at 529 Browns Ferry Rd. Georgetown, SC 29440. 

Lunch and Learn: “Understanding Medicare: How Medicare May Pay for Your YMCA Membership”
Tidelands Health Georgetown Family YMCA
November 2 from 11:30am – 12:30pm

Limited Availability
RSVP to Zach Marshall, [email protected]

The annual Grand Strand Optimist Club Annual Fish Fry Fundraiser will be held at Crabby Mike’s on November 14th from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Adult tickets are $12, and child tickets are $6. Tickets include a plate fish, fries, coleslaw & hushpuppies. Join us for the fun and raise money for the YMCA of Coastal Carolina!

September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and as children and families start their new school-year routines, it’s a perfect time to reflect and refresh your family’s healthy habits. As families settle into new school-year routines this month, YMCA of Coastal Carolina is offering tips to help families incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into their lives. 

• Eat & Drink Healthy: Make water the drink of choice and encourage everyone to fill half their plates with fruits and vegetables by offering two or three colorful options at every meal. As a family choose a new fruit and veggie every week to taste together.  Place a full pitcher of water on the table during meals and allow children to pour their own water. Keep full water bottles available in the car and back packs. 

• Play Every Day/Go Outside: Children should have at least an hour a day of unstructured play outside (when possible) and break a sweat at least three times a week by getting 20 minutes or more of vigorous physical activity. Join your children in games that get your hearts pumping and bodies moving. 

• Get Together: Eat as a family as frequently as possible. Involve kids in meal planning, preparation and clean up. In addition, adults should take a break from electronics and spend one-to-one time each day with their kids, enjoying one another’s company. 

• Reduce Recreational Screen Time: Time spent in front of a television, computer, tablet, cell phone or video games should be limited to two hours or less per day. Make a family plan to reduce screen time at home (i.e. turn off screens during meals, charge electronics/screens in the kitchen overnight, go for a walk after a meal, set a timer to remind you to power down the screen).

• Sleep Well: Kids and adults need to keep a regular sleep schedule; unwind together in the evenings by reading a book or listening to soft music to ensure the body is preparing for sleep. Kids are growing and need 10-12 hours of healthy sleep per night and seven to eight hours for adults.

The Y offers so many programs and classes so your family can live a healthy, active life. Check out our membership and program options today!