Maintaining a healthy body, regardless of age, is one of the best possible things we can do to maintain and support our overall health. And as we get older, keep our bodies strong plays a pivotal role in assuring strength and mobility in the years to come. If you’re passionate about fitness and want to help foster that same love of movement in our community’s older residents, your help is needed for an exciting initiative taking place in the Capital City.

Project Healthy Bones, a program founded by the NJ Division on Aging, is a statewide initiative designed to help aging men and women who either have or are at risk for developing osteoporosis stay active and implement exercises to help strengthen their bodies and minds. The 24-week curriculum includes sessions on the importance of exercise, nutrition, safety, drug therapy, and lifestyle factors. Since its founding in 1997, the Project Healthy Bones initiative has reached over 1,500 older adults through nearly 100 programs statewide. Now, as Project Healthy Bones and the Interfaith Caregiver of Greater Mercer County (ICGMC) work to bring the latest chapter to Trenton, they need your help to make it happen.

Per Maria Sergio, the Project Healthy Bones coordinator for Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County, “What’s really great is that this program is not just exercise. Exercise is obviously very important for overall health, but weight-bearing exercise, specifically, is really good for the prevention or the reversal of osteoporosis. With this program, there’s also an education component, so we review things like vitamins, calcium, fall risks, etc., and it’s all laid out in the manual participants get.”

If you’re 18 years or older, local to the Mercer County area, and want to play a meaningful role in helping our community’s seniors get moving, your assistance is needed to bring this project to life. ICGMC, alongside the East Trenton Collaborative, are currently working on bringing the latest chapter of Project Healthy Bones to the East Trenton Center. These classes are slotted to be held on Tuesdays at 10am. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to work alongside our community’s golden residents and play a pivotal part in their health and wellness journeys. Whether you yourself are a fitness professional or are just looking to do your part in the community, all skill levels are welcome to be a part of the fun. Training will be provided to any onboarding volunteers, so you will be amply prepared before embarking on your first class.

If you’re a resident of Trenton and just can’t wait for these new classes to get started, not to worry! Classes are currently held on Wednesday afternoons at North 25 Apartments, located at 260 N Willow St, Trenton, NJ 08618, as well as Thursday mornings at St. Mary’s Cathedral, located at 151 N Warren St, Trenton, NJ 08608. If you plan on attending, please contact Maria Sergio, the Project Healthy Bones coordinator, at 609-393-9922 or maria@icgmc.org for additional details. In order to participate, please note that attendees must be 60 years of age or older, have or be at risk for osteoporosis, and must be medically cleared by their doctors. Once cleared for participation, guests will be led through a number of exercises and movements designed with mobility, strength, and balance in mind.

If you’re interested in being a part of bringing this initiative to life, please contact Maria Sergio at 609-393-9922 or maria@icgmc.org to find out more about volunteering. Project Heathy Bones is improving lives one exercise at a time, and now’s your chance to get moving for a marvelous cause. Apply today!

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