AYLUS Basking Ridge members participated in the Saturdays in Motion program at the GSCY YMCA on 9/19/26. This year, the SIM program moved from the gym on the second floor to the first floor. However, because some of the equipment remained on the second floor, our volunteers helped move the equipment between floors during both the setup and cleanup sessions.
Two volunteer who was new to SIM first attended a brief orientation for new participants, while the other volunteers helped set up the gym rooms before the children arrived. Once the session began, each volunteer was paired with a child with special needs and engaged in various activities such as using the gymnastics equipment, playing catch, running on the inflatable track, and more.
Our AYLUS members demonstrated a strong commitment to the program by staying through the entire session and helping with cleanup until everything was finished. They were among the last volunteers to leave, making sure the equipment and rooms were properly organized and returned to their appropriate locations. We also had one volunteer stay in the extra water session today.
This event had a meaningful impact on both the children with special needs and the volunteers. The activities provided the children with opportunities to improve their motor skills, build confidence, and have fun in a supportive and inclusive environment. For the AYLUS members, the experience was both rewarding and educational—they learned valuable communication and teamwork skills while developing empathy and patience. The volunteers also built stronger connections with the children and their families, contributing to a welcoming and joyful community atmosphere.
Overall, the event strengthened AYLUS Basking Ridge’s commitment to community service and inclusion through meaningful, hands-on engagement. The volunteers’ willingness to assist with the additional equipment transportation and remain until the very end also demonstrated their reliability, teamwork, and dedication to supporting the SIM program.
David Jen (9/19/26, 3.5HR)
Claire Zhang, Ben Zhang, Jeremy Liu, Nathan Jin, Jamie Tang,Bryan Yuan, Kathryn Cheng, Madeline Zhu, Ethan Yan,Charlie Xu, Evelyn Xu,Audrey Wu,Katie Cui (9/19/26,2.5HR)
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