Community Corner
In the Swim of Cleaning Up
YMCA's collection project raises funds to put the swim team on the road to nationals.
Besides helping residents eliminate some of their clutter, a special “Spring Cleaning” project is helping some swimmers make their way to Atlanta.
The Somerset Valley YMCA’s National Swim Team encouraged residents to bring unwanted items to the parking lot of the Somerset Valley YMCA on Garretson Road Saturday. Half of the $10 per bag [about the size of a standard curbside trash container] price went to help the team fund its July trip to the Y’s National Long Course Meet.
Because this year’s meet is at Georgia Tech in Atlanta instead of in Maryland, as in previous years, the 31 swimmers are faced with added travel costs, said parent Nancy Stoddard.
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The team contributes to the estimated $1,000-per-swimmer cost of the trip by fundraising throughout the season. The YMCA hosted a master’s swim meet in April and team members worked at concession and food sales. Parents pick up the rest of the costs, Stoddard said.
This year was the first time the team partnered with College Hunks Hauling Junk, owned and operated by Somerset County resident Nancy Ziatyk, who has two children who swim at the YMCA.
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“This is a win-win,” Stoddard said. “Everybody has junk and you have to get rid of it somehow.”
Ziatyk added, “We sort the items for donations and work with donation partners across the state to recyle, reuse or donate. Only about 20 percent of what we collect winds up in the dumps.”
With team members helping with the unloading, loading and sorting, Ziatyk was able to cover the costs of disposing of the items, while still giving the team half of the money brought in.
Bridgewater resident Amy Yu, whose daughter Dana is a team member and project volunteer, said she thinks this was a great event.
“I’ve been waiting for this," she said. "I encouraged Dana to clean up her room. This was a good way to help the team.”
Township resident Perry Novak arrived with an SUV filled with sporting goods.
“It’s a great way to get rid of things,” he said.
Saturday’s Spring Cleaning project brought in more than $300 for the team.
Anyone who missed the event can still contribute to the team. College Hunks Hauling Junk is offering home pick-up through Aug. 1, and those mentioning the SVY LC swimmers will receive 10 percent off regular prices, with the team earning 40 percent of the revenue.
For pricing information, call 908-397-2757.
