The Warren County YMCA has been awarded $34,200 to support a health initiative for adults with intellectual disabilities.

The Firefly Program will be made available two times a week for 12 weeks, four different times a year, according to YMCA grant writer Kimberly Slocum.

The Y has provided free access to adults with intellectual disabilities, but there was not funding available for a fitness program, said Slocum.

The need for a program was seen, however, and was always a discussion among staff about ideas for programs.

Once the research was complete and a foundation was identified the grant writing began.

The grant for “Firefly” was submitted in late September to the Edith L. Trees Trust.

“It is one of those things that you hope comes through,” said Slocum. “It is a waiting game but with having met the ‘healthy initiative’ and their guidelines, I thought we might be a candidate for funding.”

The Y has been working hard at making the facility available for everyone, she said. In 2014, the Y received a government grant through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) and opened a new family ADA locker room at the facility. This also provided funding for push-button doors and then the Y took on the task of making the main entrance a zero entry in 2016.

The program Firefly was so named from the acronyms provided by the grant goals of fitness, extraordinary fun, and limitless program.

“Then, once we looked up the definition of ‘firefly,’ we realized that this indeed should be the name,” said Slocum. “The consumers from day programs and individuals with their family members who come to use the Y bring a smile to all of our faces when they enter the facility. They are engaging and part of the Y family. When we greet and see them here it is very similar to when you see a firefly at night, an engaging light that shines and glows so big you feel lucky to have had a glimpse of it.”

Thad Turner, CEO of the Warren YMCA, said, “For 150 years, the Warren County YMCA has been making a difference in people’s lives. With this grant from the Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust, we will be able to reach out to our community’s population of intellectually-challenged individuals, giving them quality classes at no charge to the participants.”

The Firefly program registration will begin January 14  for the sessions beginning in February.

For registration or questions, stop at the front desk of the Y at 212 Lexington Ave.

The program will be for 12 individuals for 12 weeks and meets twice a week. There will be a 5-to-10-minute warm up, 20-to-30-minute cardiovascular workout, followed by a 25-to-30-minute weight training program, then a 5-to-10-minute cool down, followed by a short period of social interaction as well as emphases on what are good food choices.