The name change that the YMCA is undergoing — to simply the Y — is but a small change that the nonprofit organization is embracing as it morphs to better meet community needs.

At a time when so many complain about high childhood obesity rates, the Y is tackling the issue head-on in Central Texas by offering a 10-week class to teach healthy living skills to low-income families who have overweight children.

The Y has even opened a health food cafe, La Vida (which means “the life”), at the Waco Family branch, which serves healthier food choices, such as oatmeal, V8 juice and a “Huaco wrap” for $4.75 made of grilled chicken and turkey bacon. No candy at this cafe, but the fruit smoothies are sure sweet enough.

Children play at the Doris Miller Family YMCA pool.
Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune-Herald

And the organization is trying to educate our community on water safety, which can’t come any too soon given the high rate of drownings this summer.

The Y offers special adaptive aquatics classes for area autistic children at a discounted rate to teach swim strokes and safety to special populations. Autistic children are especially at risk for drowning as they tend to wander.

The Y is working with the principals of J.H. Hines Elementary School and Rapoport Academy to bring students from those nearby campuses to the Doris Miller pool to teach swim skills during the school day.

Aquatics director Chris Bernard says the swim-to-safety program will focus on water safety and could start next month.

“We are trying to build their confidence in the water as well as reduce the amount of drownings by teaching safety,” Bernard said.

By reaching out to students in low socioeconomic parts of East Waco with high minority populations, they’re targeting the youngest among us most at risk for drowning.

A study by the University of Memphis for USA Swimming found 69 percent of black children and 58 percent of Hispanic children had low or no swim skills. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 10 U.S. drownings daily. Here in Central Texas, a woman drowned in Lake Whitney on Wednesday, the fifth drowning at the lake this year and second in a week.

Local Y executive director Patrick Murphy told the Trib’s Cindy Culp the name re-branding is more of a refocus on healthy living, youth development and social responsibility.

Their mission appears well received. Membership is up, and the local branches are offering $450,000 in financial assistance to help 3,000 people — twice more than before. They’re even partnering with groups like Baylor University’s water polo team, which uses the Doris Miller pool.

That’s la vida. Keep up these programs and keep our youth safe, engaged and healthy.