PINK HILL — The Pink Hill Wellness and Education Center has raised its membership from zero to more than 400 in the last two years.
The center is celebrating its second anniversary today with activities, a cooking demonstration and door prizes.
There will be an outdoor Zumba exercise class by instructor Rose Thomas from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
“It’s a real special thing in our parking lot,” PHWEC Director Jennifer Scott said.
Visitors can earn raffle tickets by working out and bringing a guest this morning. Door prize giveaways and a cooking demonstration, Sprucing Up Your Salad, will be held starting at 11:45 a.m.
“I will be showing different ways to kind of liven up salads,” Scott said.
Visitors are asked to wear black and red to support the center, and can sign up for a free month of membership and get their body mass index and body fat measured.
The property, a portion of the former Pink Hill Elementary School, was donated by local businessman Johnny Sheppard and his wife Danita. Currently, the center utilizes one of the three buildings on the site, but there are plans to use the other two buildings in the future.
“We are in the process of trying to renovate the buildings,” Scott said.
PHWEC offers community members periodic workshops and more than 30 classes a week, including maximum karate, yoga, pilates, boot camp, cardio strength and senior classes. It also features a weight-lifting room, cardio equipment, a nursery and youth services and a person trainer.
“We have wonderful certified fitness instructors,” Scott said.
Various groups, such as TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) and Girls on the Go, meet there.
The center is a fitness hub for residents of Lenoir, Wayne and Duplin counties and is funded by grants, membership fees and sponsors, Scott said.
PHWEC is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays, 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.
If You Go
What: Pink Hill Wellness and Education Center
When: Today, starting at 10:30 a.m.
Where: 301 S. Pine St., Pink Hill
For information: Call 252-568-2425