ALLENTOWN- Greater Valley YMCA has announced the reopening of the Allentown branch wellness center on Monday, May 13, offering new and current members an Express Fitness Membership. The Y will also offer group exercise classes to active older adults and in September introduce two free, donor-supported Pathway programs to support the community’s military Veterans and those working through a mental health diagnosis.

On June 6, 2023, the Allentown branch, located at 425 South 15th St., sustained significant damage from a fire that forced it to close. The branch has remained closed except for the child care center, which reopened June 12, and the Warming Station, which runs November through mid-April.

“Express Fitness membership will grant access to the wellness center cardio and strengthening equipment along with group exercise classes dedicated to our active older adult population, decreasing social isolation while strengthening a spirit of community, body and mind,” explained Trish Feinthel, managing chief operations officer for Greater Valley YMCA.

“The reopening of the wellness center for express fitness enables us to re-engage our mission through health and wellness,” Feinthel continued. “It is exciting to provide the Allentown community with well-being opportunities while we continue to explore and determine a future vision for the Allentown branch and facilities across Lehigh and Northampton Counties.”

Other areas of the branch such as locker rooms, gymnasiums, racquetball courts and the aquatics center will remain closed when the Allentown Express Fitness Center opens on May 13. Greater Valley YMCA has invested in an outside firm to perform a capital assessment of all facilities, including the Allentown branch. There will be no joiner fee for new members of the Allentown wellness center, which will have a significantly lower monthly membership rate than the other Greater Valley Y branches because of the limited services offered.

In September of this year, two YMCA Pathway programs will be introduced in Allentown. The Veterans Wellness Initiative is a free, 12-week Pathway program for military veterans and, or their spouses to support a healthy lifestyle including personal training, mindfulness and nutrition. The Healthy Horizons pathway program, also a free 12-week class, is designed to promote physical health and well-being for those in the mental health recovery process. YMCA Pathway programs are 100% donor-supported, and therefore free to participants who qualify.

To learn more and sign up for Express Fitness at the Allentown branch of Greater Valley YMCA, please visit www.gv-ymca.org or call Greater Valley YMCA at 610-351-9622

Greater Valley YMCA is a volunteer-led, nonprofit community organization serving more than 13,400 members Valley-wide, alongside thousands of additional program participants annually. The Y is committed to strengthening community by positively changing lives every day. At each of our branches, we concentrate our efforts in three areas: Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. Our programs and services remain accessible to the community through our charitable mission; our Y distributed more than $780,000 in financial assistance and subsidy to neighbors in 2023 alone. The Greater Valley YMCA serves the Lehigh Valley and consists of branches in Allentown, Bethlehem, Catasauqua, Easton, Nazareth, and Pen Argyl. To learn more, support, or join the Y, please visit gv-ymca.org.

Caption for all three photos: Greater Valley YMCA’s Allentown branch Wellness Center will reopen on May 13, offering new and current members Express Fitness Membership (photos courtesy of Greater Valley YMCA).

 

Information & images provided to TVL by:
Michael Reisman