Bob Sierra Family YMCA, Sweetbay Supermarket and Local Partners Celebrate Healthy Kids Day

Springtime is often associated with rebirth, renewal and re-growth. 

So it’s only fitting that the nation’s largest health recognition day for families is coming to Carrollwood. 

On Saturday, the – with the help of Sweetbay Supermarket – will be hosting the Y’s annual Healthy Kids Day. 

HKD has prompted celebrations and activities throughout the nation with one solitary goal in mind: To improve the health of well-being of families across the country. 

“We encourage families to stay active and spend quality time together," said Mercy Powell, development director for the Bob Sierra YMCA in Northdale. "Healthy Kids Day provides opportunities for families to do just that.  We look forward to sharing the day’s festivities with our community."

The team at Bob Sierra is anticipating a very “healthy” crowd of approximately 1,000 people on April 16.  The free family-friendly festivities kick off at 10 a.m. and are open to the public.  Activities will be held indoors and outdoors and include: bounce houses, relay races, archery, sand volleyball, tug of war, family aerobics classes, arts & crafts, and more. 

The event will also coincide with the seasonal opening of the splash water park, and families are encouraged to wear their bathing suits so they can swim and participate in water games in the eight-lane pool.   

With the holiday just one week away, the Easter Bunny will be on site hosting an egg hunt and taking pictures with the children.

In between photo taking and face painting, attendees will enjoy music from DJ Jenny of DJ It Right Disc Jockey Services, while sampling food donated by and .  Sweetbay Supermarket is also a major contributor to the event.

For many years, Sweetbay and the YMCA have collaborated via local partnerships on a store-to-facility level for years.  In 2010, Sweetbay supported both the YMCA Healthy Kids Day and Summer Camp programs, reaching thousands of children and families with information on healthy living and nutrition.

This year, the Tampa-based grocer remains committed to its partnership by providing up to $100,000 worth of grants to area YMCA’s through the Sweetbay Supermarket Foundation. 

“We look to partner with organizations that have a mission similar to ours," said Nicole LeBeau, spokesperson for Sweetbay Supermarket. "Sweetbay does more than just sell groceries. We offer families nutritious choices via Guiding Stars, our nutrition navigation system."

‘Stars’ is an effortless ranking of foods at Sweetbay – designated by the stars displayed throughout the store – which makes it easy for customers to purchase the healthiest products on the shelves without navigating nutrition labels and paragraphs of impossible-to-pronounce ingredients. 

Added LeBeau, “Our shoppers are YMCA members, so naturally, it makes sense for us to join forces and reinforce our message of eating nutritious foods while promoting an active lifestyle.”   

Rebecca Bray, director of communications for the Metropolitan Area YMCA, said it's key to get kids to understand the importance of staying healthy.

“As a leading nonprofit strengthening communities through healthy living, the Y believes that getting kids more active and allowing them to play leads to a healthier lifestyle," she said. "These lifestyles include regular physical activity and healthy eating, which lower kids’ chances of becoming obese or overweight and developing chronic diseases."

The Tampa YMCA invites all families to stop by Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. It's a free event open to both members and non-members.  The event will be held on the grounds of the Bob Sierra Youth & Family Center at 4015 Ragg Road. 

For more information, contact the Bob Sierra Family YMCA at 813-962-3220.