DSN’s continued strength and success has demonstrated resilience and hard work through new unforeseen difficult challenges. As the state began re-opening, DSN once again was on the forefront.
DSN’s youth are the future of tomorrow, and we know how tough it has been on all children during quarantine. Accordingly, DSN strived to provide multiple cooking and baking demos by amazing volunteers.
For kids in the food category, DSN organized string cheese and yebra making with Nicole’s Kitchen, baking with adolescent girls with Sari’s Sweets, Macaroon making for kids with Alexis Cohen, ka’ak and rice pudding making with Evelyn Safdieh, kelsonnes making with Norma Blanco, a challah bake with Shelly & Frieda, and a tutorial on how to make TEENie S’mores pies by editors of QuaranTEEN magazine Jacob Smeke and Marilyn Chehebar.
DSN also had an eyebrow quick fix and makeup tutorial with make-up artist Stephanie Hassoun. PJ Jams are also a continued success with DSN, along with hangouts that now include Kahoot personalized trivia for 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades.
Frieda Betesh, a DSN mother of two, exclaimed, “No matter what, PJ Jam is a night we never try to miss. DSN always provides the best entertainment and my kids never fail to enjoy!”
Other activities have included Story Time with children’s book author Marilyn Harary, Yoga & Dance Movement with Sally Cohen, and an awesome dance party with DJ Ike Douek. For Erev Shavuot, DSN created an awesome garden-themed day program with tutorials on gardening, making edible dirt cups, art flower centerpieces with Jill Levy, and a tutorial on gorgeous Har Sinai cupcakes by Michelle Saka. DSN never skipped a beat.
On Sunday, June 7, DSN quickly converted the outdoor basketball courts at the DSN Beach Club to a massive group exercise studio. Starting with a class of 25, per Governor Murphy’s outdoor gathering limit, DSN’s app came in handy allowing members to book a spot in one of three classes per day. As soon as the limit was extended to 100 people, class capacity increased to allow for more members to join in. Each member who books a class on the app gets a 12’x12’ marked-off area to stand in. DSN provides sanitized equipment and towels for members to use which are then disinfected after class. DSN’s year-round instructors provide a variety of types of classes at the beach club including dance fitness, strength and toning classes, boxing, Pilates and yoga. Members keep coming out to take classes and expressing gratitude to be able to exercise with DSN.
In addition to the classes being offered 6 days a week, there are also evening outdoor cycle classes in the parking lot in front of DSN. This started with 25 participants and the capacity has been increased to allow for 15 more.
Men’s classes take place in the back parking lot and instructors have been creative, using the soft playground area, the back trailer and parking lot lines. On Sunday mornings and Monday and Wednesday evenings, guys can be seen running through the parking lot, performing cone drills, using battle ropes and having a great time while getting fit!
DSN’s senior fitness has continued to thrive on Instagram with weekday classes on @dealdsn account. There is no limit to the number of participants in these classes since they are virtual. One Brooklyn participant, Faye Sued who began the classes virtually during quarantine, sent a message, “Thank you so much. It took away the boredom and got me strong before my hip surgery.”
DSN has offered numerous, diversified virtual classes to stimulate and invigorate adults physically, as well as intellectually and emotionally. Some of the adult non-exercise classes have included a book club with Emily Labaton, cooking with various chefs, including Raquel Amar and Sarah Hanan, maintaining beauty during quarantine with beauty expert Sylvia Hamowy, summer styling with Instagram Influencer Fortune Dushey, baking with Susan Harari, arts and crafts such as plant holder making, and an outdoor short story in-person class with Sally Taylor Tawil.
One participant, Frieda Sabbagh, from Jenny Tawil’s Family Purity Refresher class on Zoom, spoke with the DSN Adult Program Director, Caleigh Silvera. She said “Jenny’s class was amazing! I was so appreciative to have had DSN print and drop in-depth materials on my doorstep prior to the class. Jenny was informative, warm and lovely. I learned so much and was so happy to have this Zoom in the evening after my children were asleep.”
Another participant from a cooking Zoom, Adele Dayan, stated, “DSN bounced back! They adjusted their sails as swiftly as possible and remain not only relevant but critical to our Jersey community life. I am grateful for them, as their cooking Zooms help dictate my grocery list and weeknight meals.”
DSN raised the bar and remains a dependable resource that has been—and continues to be—there for the community. They continue to listen to the needs of the community, and reflect this by providing structured, engaging programming for seniors, adults, youth and family for entertainment. As no one knows what the future holds or how it will look, one fact remains certain—DSN is here for you
