Lynn, Massachusetts YMCA Opens Rooftop Garden To Promote Nutritional Eating
Mayor Jared Nicholson said at the grand opening that the Demakes Family YMCA plays a critical role for the city’s community.
By Emily Pauls
Item Live
June 21, 2023
Excerpt:
The Demakes Family YMCA’s roof has had a complete makeover with the construction of its new rooftop garden. The roof of the building is now filled with grate gardens that kids at the YMCA can manage.
At the Demakes Family YMCA, nutrition-and-healthy-eating education is already offered to children, Demakes Family YMCA Senior Branch Executive Andrea Baez said.
“Along with our free meals program and cooking classes in our healthy-eating kitchen, the rooftop garden will be a core part of our efforts to tackle food insecurity and promote healthy living,” Baez said.
The Demakes Family YMCA will also be sending a team up to Vermont next week to learn how to farm, she said.
“They can learn how to appropriately teach our young people what they are growing and how they can utilize that produce,” Baez said.
Demakes Family YMCA Facilities Director Niko Kostopoulos and Assistant Facilities Director Billy Smiddy have been taking day-to-day care of the garden.
YMCA of Metro North President and CEO Kathleen Walsh said the garden provides an opportunity for kids to learn the seed-to-table concept.
“They grow it, they nurture it, then they cook it in a healthy recipe so that we can continue to help improve the health and wellness of the folks in Lynn and the surrounding communities,” Walsh said.
