Rutgers Football Players Volunteer at Basking Ridge YMCA

For the 10th consecutive year, Rutgers University football players donated their time and effort at a Somerset Hills YMCA program for children with autism last month.

According to the Somerset Hills YMCA, Saturdays in Motion is a free program sponsored by the YMCA that invited children on the autism spectrum and their siblings to come to the Y twice monthly for recreational activities. Some of the activities for the children include gymnastics, swimming and games.

Michelle Barkemeyer, whose daughter Jennifer, 7, regularly attends Saturdays in Motion, said she was thrilled to see Rutgers University football players, including Brandon Arcidiacono, Derrick Nelson, JJ Denman, Hayden Rettig, Julian Pinnix-Odrick and Logan Lister, volunteering at the YMCA.

“Watching Jennifer interact with the Rutgers students was an amazing gift. She laughed and played, the way all children should, with the ‘big kids’ from college,” Barkemeyer said in a release from the Somerset Hills YMCA. “She loved every minute of their attention. I’m so grateful that these players joined forces with the young volunteers who lead the program at the Y and shared their time and spirit with the many children who participate in Saturdays in Motion.”

Art Raynes, a Somerset Hills YMCA board member, founded the Saturdays in Motion program more than 20 years ago. Raynes asked Rutgers University if the football team might send some players to volunteer at the program 10 years ago and the Scarlet Knights have participated in the program each year since.

(Photos courtesy of Somerset Hills YMCA)