Water aerobics pals help out local charities
Two years ago, a group of women who were taking water aerobics classes at the Rome-Floyd County YMCA decided to get together for a little fellowship and to do a little good.
They’ve come a long way since then.
Back in 2015, Lee Graves was one of the original members of the Y-Knots as the group now calls itself. She and a few other YMCA members first met in November 2015. The idea was that they’d get to know each other outside their workout classes and maybe do a little good as well.
“We knew that on certain days particular restaurants would give a percentage of your ticket to a local charity,” Graves said. “So it started out with us going to those places.”
But as time went by, the Y-Knots grew and moved their now monthly lunches to one location — the Harvest Moon Cafe.
“Harvest Moon has been great,” Graves said. “They give us their upper room and it’s a great place for us to meet and enjoy each other and do
‘We knew that on certain days particular restaurants would give a percentage of your ticket to a local charity. So it started out with us going to those places.’ Lee Graves Y-Knots member
good for the community.”
That’s because every time the Y-Knots meet, they select a local organization or project to which to donate. About a week after one lunch ends, the members
(now number about 20) decide on the next recipient for their donations.
So far they’ve helped various community groups including The Open Door Home, Boys & Girls Club of Northwest Georgia, A Girl Scout Gold Project, The Community Kitchen, Toys for Tots Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, The Hospitality House, Backpack Buddies, YMCA swim lessons, The William S. Davies Homeless Shelter, Heroes Great and Small and have collected bedding for the needy as well as stuffed animals for local law enforcement to give to children.
Each month the group donates an average of $350 in cash or items to various local organizations.
They consider themselves somewhat of an extension of the YMCA and believe in developing healthier bodies and in developing relationships throughout the community.
“This past month we had 17 women attend and three men,” Graves said.
“Every time we’re going to meet we put up a poster at the YMCA reminding people of the meeting and inviting others. We also tell them what the project will be that we’re donating to.”
The next lunch will be a little earlier than normal.
The group will meet on March 30 and will collect donations toward Michael Legg’s upcoming mission trip.
Legg is a lifeguard at the YMCA and will be traveling to Eleuthera, Bahamas in May as part of a mission trip through Caribbean Mission Association.
While there he’ll be conducting community outreach, Bible studies, construction and swim lessons.
“We have a great lunch and we put out an envelope for people to donate,” Graves said. “You can donate whatever you can afford. The money’s counted and then given to the person or organization we decided on.”
Graves added that the Y-Knots lunches have opened her eyes to community organizations and projects she would never have known about otherwise. Sometimes representatives of the groups they’re helping will attend the lunches and speak to members.
And it’s not always cash that the group collects.
“Sometimes it’s money but sometimes
‘“Sometimes it’s money but sometimes it’s food, blankets or paper products. One month we donated stuffed animals for local police officers to keep in their patrol cars for kids that were involved in wrecks.’ Lee Graves Y-Knots member
it’s food, blankets or paper products,” Graves said. “One month we donated stuffed animals for local police officers to keep in their patrol cars for kids that were involved in wrecks.”
Graves said the group isn’t exclusively for YMCA members but all its current members participate in the water aerobics classes at the Y and added that the Y-Knots encourage people to build healthy lifestyles and healthy relationships throughout the community.