After the difficult announcement of the Resale Shop closure, Kenneth Young Center (KYC) works to find other opportunities for the volunteers and community members affected by the shop’s closing. One opportunity the agency opens up to public, is the 15th Annual 5k Run Walk. The volunteer-planned event attracts walkers, runners, families and their four legged friends to Busse Woods for the active day of fun. All are invited to join us on Saturday, May 14th from 8am (registration) through the afternoon for music, food and the walk! There is something for everyone at the event!
Celebrating its 15th year, the walk run raises funds to provide vital services for the mentally ill and older adults of the community. This year, under the current state budget impasse, KYC relies even more on the funds raised from its special events and supporters.
The current stalemate of the Illinois state budget has withheld $500,000 of the agency’s funding. As a primarily publicly-funded organization, KYC depends on the income of state grants and programs to maintain its services. The lack of payments from the state has forced the organization to curtail support services for mentally ill children, low cost psychiatric medications and lab work, and to reduce the number of psychiatric hours the organization can provide to its clients. That being said, Kenneth Young Center is in a relatively healthy position, with other agencies facing the suspension of programming all together. Without a budget in place, KYC cannot fund additional programming than ones which are at the core of its mission: to serve the mentally ill and older adult communities. This all being said, it was in the agency’s best interest to close the Resale Shop,
Without the support of its community members and volunteers, though, KYC could not guarantee its current financial position.
Our organization has grown to provide services and resources to more than 30,000 community members last year alone. In order to maintain this caliber of services, KYC must raise the funds which have not been made available from state grant payments this year. Our staff members are working to raise these funds back, but look to the community for the additional support. Please join us at our walk run, or take a moment to make a donation. Each bit helps us reach our goal to remain as a leading provider of mental health and senior services in the North West suburbs.
To learn more about the run walk, or to sign up, visit our website page:
As you may well know, Kenneth Young Center will be hosting it’s Annual 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, May 14th at Busse Woods! So you have to make the hard choice….to run or to walk?
In this post we’re going to be exploring the benefits of running and walking so you can start to get ready for those 3.1 miles.
The Benefits of Running
- Memory Boost: Did you know that exercise can actually reduce symptoms of dementia and protect your brain against Alzheimer’s? So not only are you keeping your body sharp but your brain as well!
- Blood Pressure: When you’re running, you’re not only working out your body but you’re working out your arteries when they expand and contract. This keeps your blood pressure at a normal rate.
- Relieves Stress: When you’re running your brain releases serotonin in the brain which keeps you calm and your stress levels down. Runner’s high anyone?
- Bone Density: Your bones can actually be stressed, however not in the way you think. When running your bones get stressed and your body responds by sending extra minerals to your bones and essentially makes them stronger (not Captain America strong but you get the idea).
- Weight Control: Probably one of the most obvious benefits, running helps you control your weight! You burn the most calories and get to treat yourself after a nice long run.
- Immune System: Running can strengthen your immune system, which means less illnesses and more running!
The Benefits of Walking
- Prevents Falls: Don’t think grandma could benefit from a walk? Think again. Walking on an uneven, natural terrain (like Busse Woods) can help the balance in people of all ages. A better balance could help prevent that fatal fall.
- Strong Muscles: When you’re moving you legs and your arms when you walk, you’re strengthening and toning you muscles. This increases when you’re walking up hills or stairs.
- Improved Sleep: Walking for one hour can actually help relieve insomnia at night. Get ready to count those sheep!
- Circulation: Just like running, walking can help lower your blood pressure. When you get your body moving it increases circulation and therefore strengthening your heart.
- Reduce arthritis pain: Walking one hour a day can reduce arthritis pain and actually prevent disability. It increases mobility and unclogs arteries.
- Brain Cells: In a study done on mice, it was shown that cardio activity such as walking can create new brain cells. Brain and body power!
It’s a well known fact that eating a healthy diet is important for both your mind and body. Here is a list of foods that resemble the part of the body they’re benefiting!
1. Kidney Beans
Kidney beans actually help maintain the kidney and it’s function of extracting waste from your blood. They also provide many vitamins and minerals.
2. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes contain an antioxidant called beta-carotene that protects the body’s tissue from aging and cancer.
Like the chambers of the heart, when you cut open a tomato you can see the different chambers. Tomatoes contain the antioxidant lycopene that reduces heart disease, potassium for those with high blood pressure, and vitamin B6 to protect blood vessels.
Walnuts contain a lot of omega-3s which help keep the brain fluid and flexible. Walnuts can also prevent depression and increase your mental well being.
Mushrooms contain vitamin D that is great for bones like the ones in your ears. A study has shown that people who are hard of hears are lacking vitamin D in their diet.
Celery is full of mineral calcium and Vitamin K which is great for strong bones, your spinal cord and bone density.
Ginger is known to treat an upset stomach because it contains gingerols and shogaols. It is also used to disinfect foods from bacteria and boost digestion.
Carrots contain beta-carotene, which our body converts into Vitamin A, an important nutrient for the eye’s overall health. Deficiency of the Vitamin A can easily lead to eye dryness, swollen eyelids, corneal ulcers, or even blindness.
Ginseng is and has been used for centuries as a holistic treatment for many ailments.
US National Cancer Society found that eating broccoli once a week can reduce your chances of getting prostate cancer by 45%.
Onions do a great job of cleaning out your body cells of waste. And when they make you cry, they’re helping wash away debris from your eyes.
Are there any we forgot? Were you surprised by any of these foods? Comment!
Beginning about 12,000-14,000 years ago in prehistoric times, the first animal to be domesticated was the wolf. This occurred once humans realized young wolf pups could be trained to serve them. Since then, the bond between humans and their pets has vastly grown to a diverse and mutually beneficial partnership. Here are some ways pet ownership can have a positive affect on you.
1. Petting reduces stress
While your dog enjoys belly rubs and your cat purrs from the rhythmic patting, your blood pressure is actually dropping as well. Your body releases a hormone, oxytocin, when you pet or groom your animals, which results in reduced stress and anxiety.
2. You’re never lonely with a pet
For those living on their own, it can get lonely if you find yourself stuck at home; so much so that it could lead to depression. However, when you have a furry friend around, it reduces the sadness caused by loneliness and gives you someone to do things with.
3. Unconditional, uncomplicated love
As humans we interact with so many people, relatives, friends, significant others that sometimes it can be overwhelming, even stress inducing. With your pets, they don’t care if you made a mistake at work or if you canceled dinner plans. They’re just glad that you’re with them and love them back.
4. Getting outdoors
With all dogs and maybe even some cats, you’re required to go outside. On your walks you’re getting exercise which in turn can boost your mood and release endorphins. Plus, you’ll be getting some fresh air and much needed vitamin D.
Your animals like routine. They know when it’s time for a walk, when it’s time to eat and when it’s time to sleep. By them getting into a routine it helps you get into a routine which allows you to manage your time accordingly.
Your pets depend on you for safety, food and comfort but you probably depend on them for a lot too in different ways. If you’re not able to have pets for whatever reason, volunteer at your local animal shelter or visit a friend’s pets; the results will still be the same!
A large part of the work KYC does is advocacy to end the stigma around mental illness and old age. These two groups of people are frequently devalued and deemed unimportant by society. We believe that people struggling with mental illness deserve a fair opportunity to live a full life and that old age doesn’t equal inability.
So when you reflect on what you do for others, are you looking at people with a lens of unbiased opinion? And do you act with kindness? At the end of the day it’s not about how much money you had, or your position of power but how you treated people and if you made the world a better place.
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Be kind.