Grant Awarded to a Community in Middle Georgia
Michelle Apon
Story Created:
Jan 12, 2010 at 5:24 PM EST
Story Updated:
Jan 13, 2010 at 11:17 PM EST
The center for Health and Social Issues at Georgia College & State University has been awarded a national grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Director of Health and Social Issues, Dr. Jim Lidstone says, "It's a 33 million dollar initiative to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic across the nation."
Out of 540 proposals, 41 communities across the nation were selected. The Milledgeville-Baldwin County area will receive $360,000 over a four-year period to help fight the epidemic among children.
"Georgia currently ranks third in the nation for childhood obesity and Baldwin County is very high as well," says Lidstone.
According to Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities, a study found 159 Baldwin County elementary students between the ages of 9 and 11 that 62 percents of boys and 51 percent of girls were categorized as moderately high to very high on percentage of body fat
The "Live Healthy Baldwin" coalition will have two parts; a healthy food aspect and physical activity component.
"The community vegetable garden on site of the old Southside Elementary and that vegetable garden will be for residents in the community to be able to plant and grow and harvest and share healthy foods with their neighbors," says Lidstone.
The other half of the project is to improve physical activity opportunities by safely building a bicycle/pedestrian trail alongside parks and schools.
Dr. Lidstone says starting at the Greenway Trail, money awarded will help fund a 9.5 walk-able path that will connect the college, the industrial area and nearby schools to promote a healthy and active lifestyle.
Add a comment
Most Popular