For the last 170 years, the YMCA has persevered as an organization dedicated to building strong, supportive communities that help people build healthier, happier lives. The Shelby YMCA has been privileged to be a part of such an organization since 1957.
The Shelby YMCA was incorporated as a non-profit organization on March 13, 1957, but has been around as a community committee since 1953 when the Ohio-West Virginia Area Council of YMCAs presented a charter to Mrs. Richard Sheehe of the Shelby Family YMCA. It was the first time in the history of the Area Council YMCA that such a charter was presented to a woman, recognizing the Shelby YMCA as an “Affiliated Community Committee.”
Executive Director Kim Stover continues Sheehe’s legacy 61 years later, guiding the Shelby YMCA as a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the Shelby community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
“I feel like we can change lives here, we can make a difference,” said Stover. “I think that gives it meaning; we’re not here to get rich, we’re here to make a difference.”
The YMCA organization first began in 1844 in London by George Williams and 11 of his friends and has since expanded to 119 countries around the globe, including 10,000 communities in the United States. The Y has been responsible for a number of innovations that have influenced life as we know it, including the invention of basketball and volleyball, the world’s first indoor pool and the concept of group swim lessons, and the creation of Father’s Day.
In Shelby, the creation of the YMCA started as a way to bring the community together.
“My father grew up here in Shelby, and he remembers the Y originally was a building behind Winbigler’s; it was more for social gatherings and dances every once in a while,” remembered Eric Finn, Director of Programs and Membership. “Sports would be at Dowd’s Elementary school, so there wasn’t a facility like this until 1976.”
Since the construction of the YMCA building at 111 West Smiley Avenue, the organization has worked to encourage healthy lifestyles in the Shelby community through nurturing mind, body and spirit. Stover noted in addition to physical fitness classes and facilities, the YMCA provides educational programs to promote healthier decisions and offers a variety of programs that support physical, intellectual and spiritual strength, particularly for Shelby’s youth.
“This summer we’re offering a weeklong day camp, but next summer we hope to expand maybe into an after-school or possibly an all-summer day camp where we do a little bit more youth development, bringing in organizations such as 4-H or Boy Scouts, or community members such as the fire and police department,” she explained. “We’re trying to get that youth development piece; I think that would really touch some lives. Kids have a lot of idle time in the summer and after school, and we’ve been trying to fill that gap.”
Right now at the Shelby YMCA, T-ball and coach pitch baseball, gymnastics, and martial arts are in full swing. The running and walking club is free, and Finn noted is currently full of enthusiastic community members.
“We’ve got run club Tuesday and Thursday mornings at six, it’s been going great,” he said. “We’ve gotten upwards of 20-25 people every morning; it’s been growing leaps and bounds, which is awesome.”
Swim lessons, swim club and swim team are also hopping; Stover noted the pool stays busy in the summertime. The Y also offers fitness classes like a spin class with brand-new spin bikes, and tabata classes, a short but high-intensity workout protocol that has fitness and weight-loss benefits.
For adults, martial arts classes are in full swing, kettle bell training is happening and a coed softball league is forming.
“We’ve got a good interest in adult softball league over the summertime,” said Finn. “Hopefully it’ll be good for the first year, get the kinks worked out and really get it for next year.”
Despite the summer just beginning, Finn said the staff is already looking at getting programs set for the fall, including tackle and flag football, soccer, cross country, dance and more. All efforts are geared towards enriching the Shelby community.
“We’re here to make a community richer by being a part of everything we can be, by doing classes for the little kids up to the classes we offer for senior citizens,” said Finn. “As long as you want to get up and move, we’ve got a class for you to come take and be a part of the YMCA and the community we’ve built through it.”
A summer membership special is available now at the Shelby YMCA. For more information, visit the Shelby YMCA website.
