The Eastern Missouri Family YMCA is participating in the Summer Food Service Program and offering free lunches, Monday through Friday, to all kids under the age of 18, no eligibility requirements. Serving begins Monday, June 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and continues for five weeks through Friday, July 30.

Following lunch, participants will enjoy time in the Y gym from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Menus will rotate daily and will include pizza, Uncrustables, tater tots, carrots, turkey and cheese sandwiches, fruit cups, and milk.

The YMCA will join in the celebration of Laddonia’s Sesquicentennial weekend on July 3 and July 4 at the Laddonia Ballpark. A Birthday Blast 5K is set for 8 a.m. on July 3 beginning and ending near the ballpark.

Registration, which is $25 per person, is open through the day of the event. To guarantee a commemorative t-shirt, participants need to sign up no later than June 13. Following the 5K, a One Mile Color Fun Run will be held at 10a.m., participants are encouraged to wear a white t-shirt, since they will be doused with powdered color each quarter mile.

The YMCA board will also host an information table during the Laddonia Sesquicentennial at the ballpark from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 3 and from 2 to 8 p.m. on July 4. There will be children’s games with prizes and adult registrations for chances to win $25 in Chamber Bucks each day. In addition, as part of the annual support campaign, one-quarter beef raffle tickets will be available to purchase each day.

Tickets are $10 each, with two lucky winner’s names drawn for a one quarter beef each plus processing to be drawn prior to fireworks on July 4. All proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the 2021 annual support campaign, which provides funding to assist with new programs for the Y as well as financial assistance for memberships and programs.

Frank Wallace donated the two quarters of beef and Anita Hoyt donated the processing. Folks are encouraged to stop by the booth to learn more about the YMCA, summer food service program, and upcoming fall youth and adult programs.

“Try the Y for 30 Days” new membership promotion gives you a chance to try the Y for 30 days and pay only $30. People can join the Y between June 15 and June 30 and enjoy a 30-day trial membership. They can then change their membership to a full membership before the 30-day window closes and save the $50 join fee.

“Flip into Summer with Abby” tumbling program begins July 13 for three- to six-year-old boys and girls. Abby Carlyle will teach the four-week program on Tuesday evenings beginning at 5:30pm for three- and four-year-olds and 6:15 p.m. for five- and six-year-olds. Registration ends June 30.

A one-day coed adult volleyball league is set for Sunday July 18, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Game schedules will be based on the number of teams participating. Participants must be 15 years old to join a team, which must have a minimum of three women on the team and no more than three men on the court at one time. Registration cost is $60 per team, minimum of six players and maximum of ten players per team. The league is open to members and non-members.

On Monday, July 19, a volleyball clinic is planned for eight- to 14-year-old boys and girls, 5 to 7 p.m. Participants will work on fundamental volleyball skills, drills, and game scenarios.

A coed three-on-three basketball league is on the books for Sundays, Aug.1 and Aug. 8. There will be two divisions to include freshman through senior in high school and high school graduate and older. Teams may be all men, all women, or coed. Game schedules will be determined based on the number of teams participating. Cost to play is $50 for a six-person roster.

The upcoming fall schedule will include indoor youth soccer, Tiny Time Hoops Basketball and youth recreational basketball for kindergarten through sixth grade.

“We would love to show you around,” said Debbie Hopke, branch director of Eastern Missouri Family YMCA, Vandalia.

Everyone is invited to stop by to see what is offered at the YMCA, what improvements have been made, and what has been accomplished with the support of the YMCA family.