HARDYSTON, NJ - When the pandemic hit, Gloria Williams, like so many other people, expected the lockdown to last just a couple of weeks. It would inevitably mean a pause in doing her yoga classes and exercise routine on the treadmill and bike. But it would also impact her socialization habits with friends she’s made at the YMCA and have become like family to her - as well as travel partners.
When the Y closed and social distancing and mask wearing became the new norm, Williams passed the time by talking on the phone, playing Words with Friends, and doing work around the house and yard while the weather was warm enough. Then winter came and she missed meeting people at the Y and then going out to lunch afterward. ”It was like social life was put on hold,” she said.
The COVID-19 pandemic put an immediate halt to regular activities and routines for so many YMCA members and their families. That includes the Coffee Club at the Sussex County Y, an informal gathering of adults that became a popular outlet for members to socialize and connect outside of exercise studios and classes since it began eight years ago.
The club meets twice a month and talks about everything from the topic of that meeting to what’s going on in each other’s lives, to recipes they love.
“It’s grown and people look forward to it,” said Coffee Club founder and Y member Roberta Sinatra. “It gave people a place to come, to meet people, to chat with other people. It became important.”
The club, as Sinatra and other members have described, has been a great way to learn about one another’s backgrounds, and also what the Y has to offer. Anyone is welcome to attend, at any time. Williams is also among the attendees.
On one winter afternoon, during one of the last in-person gatherings before the coronavirus outbreak forced the shutdown of the Ys in 2020, more than a dozen people, mostly senior members, had gathered to enjoy some coffee, treats, and conversation in the Y lobby. Since the pandemic began, the club has shifted to a virtual space, meeting over Zoom, but it’s been a way for members to stay connected during an isolating time, when social distancing kept people apart for weeks and months on end. The first virtual meetup also included tips on using Zoom.
On a recent Friday afternoon, a handful of members including Sinatra and her husband Jim, logged on their computers for the club meeting to discuss the topic of birthdays and sharing stories about their own birthday experiences - a fitting topic as it was Roberta’s birthday that day. On a more somber note, Roberta mentioned how many people who came to Coffee Club passed away over the last year due to various illnesses, and the Y is working on a visual tribute to remember these individuals. It was a reminder of the reason to celebrate milestones like birthdays as they happen, she noted.
The pandemic put a greater focus on mental health, particularly among the older adult age group who count on places like the Y to maintain wellness and social routines. During the past year, Y staff regularly checked in with members more vulnerable to isolation, making more than 500 phone calls and streaming virtual fitness content from Y instructors.
By the end of 2020, the Coffee Club had met nearly 40 times. It’s lifted people’s spirits and given people a way to just be together, noted Sinatra.
“During the pandemic, it brought us closer. I believe this is very important, especially now. I believe when the pandemic is over, we’ll be even stronger,” said Ray Fedorsin.