"I walked in the door during an exciting time. I'm thrilled to be here," said Melanie Weiler, who joined the YMCA of Greater Brandywine team in November 2021 as the executive director of the Jennersville YMCA. "2022 is going to a big year for us. We are renovating the facility, building our staff and expanding services."

Weiler began her career with the YMCA in 1993, serving in several leadership roles throughout the organization, including the Y in the Philadelphia area. "After I left the Philadelphia association, I spent my time between the Kennett branch and the Jennersville branch (before) the theater and the large wellness center (were built in Jennersville). My kids came here for camp and swim lessons and my kids grew up at this branch."

She also worked with other nonprofits throughout Chester County, most notably in the areas of poverty alleviation, food insecurity and homelessness prevention programs. She was the executive director of Kennett Area Community Service from 2013 until 2019 and then served as director of programs and operations and strategic planning at the Chester County Food Bank.

"I had heard that there was opening (at the Jennersville YMCA)," she said. "I wanted to get back into the Y system and was waiting for the right opportunity."

In her new role as executive director, Weiler is focusing on new programming and overseeing the revitalization of the wellness center, which will include the addition of a Ninja Warrior area.

Another change will be an expansion of the Y's pickleball program. "We are seeing all age groups and families come in (to play)," said Weiler. "It's a great intergenerational activity. We will be doing some pickleball tournaments this year and expand our pickleball offerings."

Also planned is an expanded use of the YMCA's theater. "It's an indoor stage, but the back wall retracts and opens, and you can run it as an outdoor stage," she said. "We really want to max that out this year."

The Jennersville YMCA also offers a child care and early learning center, summer camps, swim lessons and an array of in-person and virtual group exercise classes for the community. "We do a host of virtual offerings, whether it's for youths, adults or seniors," noted Weiler. "We are launching a virtual membership for folks who are hesitant to come back to a facility."

She said that the various YMCA branches work cooperatively with one another to ensure that members have access to all programming. "We are working closer than ever with our sister branches," she noted. "Under our umbrella is the Octorara Program Center, which is the early learning center that offers before- and after-school care day camp."

Weiler pointed out that the Jennersville YMCA has become busy again, especially in the cardio room and wellness center. "A lot of people disconnected and lost social connections because of COVID, and this is the perfect time for us to be growing our services back and re-engaging the community," she said.

The Jennersville YMCA is located at 880 W. Baltimore Pike, West Grove. For more information, call 610-869-9622 or visit http://www.ymcagbw.org/locations/jennersville-branch.