WVDHHR > Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease > Projects > Community Projects

2014 Community Projects

Try This West Virginia Partnership

Community projects sponsored by the Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease.

The 2014 Try This conference challenged local teams to create a worthwhile, community-based, healthy lifestyle project for $3,000 or less. To qualify, teams were required to:

Bring together teams of people from at least three community organizations, businesses or groups, to cooperate on the project. No “one-agency” projects.

Use the Try This long-range planning tool to prioritize long-range healthy lifestyle priorities for the community, of which this project is one.

These 42 teams rose to the challenge! Their awards range from $3,000 to $450.

Berkeley

Healthy Berkeley: It’s Up To Us!

Healthy Berkeley will use the money to pay their share of a full-time AmeriCorps VISTA worker for a year. The VISTA will start regular community conversation meetings and help carry out Healthy Berkeley coalition activities. Healthy Berkeley is a countywide coalition of groups collaborating to promote healthy living programs and maximize effectiveness, create awareness, reduce duplication, and develop effective programs.

Partners: The Berkeley County Health Department; Catholic Charities West Virginia, Healthier Berkeley County

Lead Contact Information:

Dana M. DeJarnett

304-264-1287 ext. 31814

ddejarnett@wvuhealthcare.com

Braxton

G.P.S. (Grow. Plant. Share.)

The grant will fund a community garden and home gardens and three months of gardening and nutrition workshops free to the public in summer 2014. Sutton Elementary will help select families for their pilot home garden project, designed to encourage family gardening, which will run throughout the school year. The project will be completed in one year.

Partners: Sutton Elementary School, the Town of Sutton, Braxton County Health Department, City National Bank, and the WVU Extension Office

Lead Contact Information:

Dot Gioulis

304-765-5463

dotgioulis@yahoo.com

Cabell

Fairfield Community Foodshare Project

Five community gardens will be created on vacant Huntington lots donated to the Build It Up! program by Huntington’s Land Bank Program (HURA). Community residents and homeless people will help grow the food, which will be distributed among those who helped grow it and the local food pantry. Area youth in Build It Up! will grow produce on one vacant lot to be taken to the Wild Ramp for sale, to keep the program going.

Partners: KEYS 4 HealthyKids, West Virginia State University Extension Services; Build it Up! WV

Lead Contact Information:

Cadance Young

304-205-2162

berrylemonlime@gmail.com

Try This Huntington

The grant will launch monthly healthy community events that promote better nutrition and/or increased physical activity. They are targeting young area families and will offer zumba classes for adults and children, Mommy and Me Yoga, Supper in a Sack-Budgeting and Healthy Meal Preparation workshops, water aerobics classes, and couponing and homemade baby food events.

Partners: TEAM for WV Children, Valley Health, Cabell County Family Resource Network, Partners in Prevention, MISSION WV, YoungLives, Cabell County WIC Program, Cabell-Huntington Health Department, Change the Future WV, and Create Huntington

Lead Contact Information:

Laurie McKeown

304-523-9587 ext. 308

laurie@teamwv.org

Fayette

HIGH FIVE

Area youth will learn how to grow and sell food by actually doing it in a STEAM learning environment. They will work in the High Five community garden 10 hours a week, harvest and learn to can their produce. They will then sell the produce and canned goods at the Fayette County Farmers Market, learning how to keep books and manage sales. A walking trail will also be created and a zumba class offered. This project will help to re-establish the Young Farmers program, and continue already-established programs, such as the afterschool program and Energy Express.

Partners: The Southern Appalachian Labor School (SALS), the Fayette County Farmers Market Association and the United Bank of Montgomery

Lead Contact Information:

John David

304-779-2280

jdavid@citynet.net

Girls on the Run

About 50 area 3^rd – 5^th grade girls will participate in the Girls on the Run program at Fayetteville Elementary School. Sponsors aim to accept all girls who apply, with all participating girls attending and completing an end-of-program 5K run. Family members will coach and will help other Fayette County Schools create Girls on the Run programs.

Partners: Fayetteville Elementary School (FES), with the support from Fayette County Family Resource Network and the Fayette County Living Well Work Group

Lead Contact Information:

Lauren Weatherford

304-574-4253

Lauren.weatherford@mail.wvu.edu

Mt. Hope on the Move

Mt. Hope on the Move will create a walking/running club for residents and distribute an area walking trail map.

Partners: Fayette County Family Resource Network and the Fayette County Living Well Work Group

Lead Contact Information:

Jean Evansmore

304-578-7707

jevansmo@yahoo.com

Mt. Hope Children’s Health Council Nutrition Education and Physical Activities Projects

Youth will grow produce for seniors and shut-ins on two community gardens they will also refurbish. They will also go through a nutrition education program during National Nutrition Month at Mount Hope Elementary School, ending in a tomato-growing competition for the kids.

Partners: The West Virginia Southeastern Area Health Education Center, the Adolescent Health Initiative, Mt. Hope Elementary School, New River Health, and West Virginia University Extension Services

Lead Contact Information:

Donna Bush

304-465-2389

donna.bush@nrhawv.org

Greenbrier

SNAP Up Local Foods (Greenbrier)

SNAP Up Local Foods will offer five nutrition and cooking demonstrations, targeting Seniors and SNAP recipients, at Greenbrier Valley farmers’ markets, with the goal of doubling the dollar volume of SNAP and Senior/WIC benefits redeemed at each market per week. The WIC and Senior Centers will be working to spread the word, along with Public Service Announcements on Appalachian Mountain Radio.

Partners: Alderson Community Food Hub, Appalachian Mountain Advocates, the Lewisburg Farmers Market, the City of Lewisburg, the Greenbrier Valley Local Foods Initiative, and West Virginia University Extension Services

Lead Contact Information:

Laura Bozzi

304-645-6482

lbozzi@appalmad.org

Get Out, Get Active, Get Healthy

This youth program includes a three-month walking program, healthy cooking demonstrations, pool parties with physical and nutritional activities, and fruit/vegetable fairs throughout the county, with an aim of increasing usage of state parks, walking and biking rails, the Greenbrier River, swimming pools, and farmers markets. Their goal is to have 50 youth and 100 adult participants countywide.

Partners: The West Virginia University Extension office, the Greenbrier County Health Department, Rainelle Medical Center

Lead Contact Information:

Nikki Dolan

304-645-1787

nikki.b.dolan@wv.gov

Hancock/Brooke

Weirton Community Garden

The funds will help pay for a community garden in Brooke and Hancock Counties, a family canning class and community garden space in Weirton. The gardens will supply fresh produce to at least 24 families and local food pantries.

Partners: Healthways and WVU Extension services, the Weirton Christian Center and the Brooke Hancock Family Resource Network

Lead Contact Information:

Aerika West

304-914-3322

aerikawest@gmail.com

Lewis

Two Playgrounds and a Community Garden Using the mini-grant, the partners will create two natural play areas and green spaces in Weston and a gardening area across from Criss Manor for seniors and participants in the Lewis County Family Resource Network Food Pantry. They will also hold a health fair at the beginning and end of each summer season.

Partners: The City of Weston, St. Patrick School, Lewis County Christian Alliance, Regional Education Service Agencies, the Lewis County Family Resource Network, Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital

Lead Contact Information:

Julia Spelsberg

304-269-3683

mayorjulia26452@aol.com

Kanawha

Butterfield Memorial Natural Playground (Kanawha)

Volunteers will create a natural playground across the street from the Clendenin Public Library to increase physical activity for children in the area, with the help of a landscape designer.

Partners: KEYS 4 HealthyKids, Cabin Creek Health Systems, Work or Play Travel, and A New Clendenin

Lead Contact Information:

KC Lovin

304-543-0001

kclovin@cchcwv.com

Community Garden

The Vista View and Southmoor Hills Neighborhood Network Learning Centers will build ten raised garden beds in three low-income communities for at least ten families that will use them to raise vegetables each growing season.

Partners: Ten South Management Company LLC, KEYS 4 HealthyKids, and WVU Kanawha Extension, the Vista View Neighborhood Network Learning Center and Southmoor Hills Neighborhood Network Learning Center

Lead Contact Information:

Staci Ponder

304-549-6505

sponder@tensouthmgmt.com

Bouncin’ In the Garden

The grant will pay for yoga balls and associated equipment for children to use in the classroom and gardens to help with fine motor skills, hyperactivity, focus and information retention. Ruthlawn will become a demonstration center for use of yoga balls in classrooms and gardens. WVU Extension will provide a technical advisor for garden-related programming, as well as make Master Gardeners available. Taylor Books will provide a meeting space for learning about gardening, exercise, and fitness.

Partners: WVU Extension Services, KEYS 4 HealthyKids, and Taylor Books, Ruthlawn Elementary School

Lead Contact Information:

Rachel Milner

317-874-6194

rachelemilner@gmail.com

Healthy Cross Lanes Initiative

Organize at least two walking groups that will meet once a week in a variety of locations so walkers can experience the many area walking trails. The grant will finance beginning steps towards an annual Healthy Cross Lanes Day, which will consist of track and field competitions, healthy food, gardening demonstrations, bounce houses, health fairs, fitness classes, prizes, and giveaways.

Partners: Cross Lanes United Methodist Church and the YMCA

Lead Contact Information:

Vikki Ballengee

304-552-8427

vwballengee@aol.com

Y-Grow Youth) Garden

The YMCA Youth Council (middle school students from various schools) will add a tunnel garden covering to their youth garden at the Charleston YMCA, to protect the produce. With the help of KEYS 4HealthyKids and donations from Pray Construction, they will create a living science classroom to teach children how to grow and care for plants and vegetables.

Partners: KEYS 4 HealthyKids, Pray Construction, the YMCA of Kanawha Valley

Lead Contact Information:

Kelly Pruett

304-340-3527

financialdevelopment@ymcawv.org

Lincoln

Farm to Childcare

Five different child care centers will use this funding to help their children grow fresh produce, harvest it, and use it in a healthy well-balanced diet. The project team will also arrange for at least three local farmers and producers to provide fresh produce to the local centers/schools.

Partners: WVU Extension Services, Come Grow With Me, Childcare, Inc., The Growing Place, Lincoln County Schools, and the YWCA, KEYS 4 Healthy Kids

Lead Contact Information:

Joshua Wendell

304-419-2302

jwendell@stepbystepwv.org

HOWLS (Hamlin Outdoor Wellness Learning Site)/Natural Playground and Vegetable Gardens

Team volunteers are building a natural playground at Hamlin PK-8, to supply students with a badly-needed area for healthy play at a school that currently has one swing set for 160 kids. This money will pay for a bamboo tunnel and grass maze among other things. The playground will include a sensory garden where children can learn how to grow fruits and vegetables.

Partners: Three Trees Design and Landscaping, staff, students, Lincoln County High students, Hamlin United Methodist members, Hamlin PTO, and other community members, KEYS 4 HealthyKids.

Lead Contact Information:

Chastidy Graham

304-824-3836

cgraham@access.k12.wv.us

Steps With Kathy: Getting Healthy In Honor Of The Person Who Inspires Us To Do Better

With this grant, the team will provide six months of physical activity opportunities at the Big Ugly Community Center, including geocaching, swimming, and indoor tennis. Participants will learn about the role of physical activity in preventing chronic disease. Grow Appalachia will offer workshops on healthy food and cooking throughout the 6-month program, and West Virginia State University Extension will be providing Walk With Ease trainings. The program is dedicated to Kathy Smith, Center director, who is battling cancer.

Partners: WV State Extension Services, Grow Appalachia, Step By Step, Inc., The Big Ugly Community Center

Lead Contact Information:

Michael Tierney

304-414-4452

mtierney@stepbystepwv.org

Logan

Celebrate Cora

This funding will help launch a Celebrate Cora Coalition in one of Logan’s most troubled neighborhoods. The coalition will include youth, churches and other organizations, and residents. They will plan a basketball tournament, engage more families in the community garden and plan an annual “Block Party” event featuring healthy activities for kids and families & education about local food. Threading through all these activities: leadership training for young people.

Partners: Recovery Group of Southern WV, Healthy Logan, WVU Extension, and BAPS Youth Leadership Group, American Friends Service Committee

Lead Contact Information:

Lida Shepherd

304-356-8428

lshepherd@afsc.org

Man: Fight Poverty with Produce

With the grant, the partners will start a farmers market at area community events, add two more raised bed gardens at Man Middle School, and provide Junior Master Gardener workshops in summer and afterschool programs. The funding will pay for the construction of 2 more beds, topsoil, fertilizer, scales, garden tools, plastic netting, and Junior Master Gardener Instruction. Materials for the first four raised beds were donated by Man Elementary, and local supply stores donated soil. Students in summer and after-school programs will raise produce in the gardens.

Partners: The Man community, Man Middle School, Master Gardeners Association

Lead Contact Information:

Bea Sias

304-896-8557

bsias@leadcommunityorg.com

McDowell

Keep it Cool & Healthy

This grant will pay for two refrigerators to keep produce fresh at the Five Loaves and Two Fishes food bank near Welch. The food bank will also host nutrition, cooking, and exercise classes, and (with new certification!) will provide milk, eggs, yogurt, potatoes and other perishable food items that will be kept fresh with refrigeration.

Partners: Five Loaves & Two Fishes LLC food bank, WVU Extension and Mountaineer Food Bank

Lead Contact Information:

Sabrina Shrader

304-922-9879

sabrinashrader@ymail.com

Mineral

Mineral County Playscapes

With the funding, the team will construct three natural playscape areas in Mineral County while engaging youth in hands-on learning and encouraging use of public school play areas. The grant will help match in-kind donations to purchase the needed construction supplies.

Partners: WVU Extension, Change the Future WV, WVU Master Gardener’s Association, New Creek Elementary School, the parks & recreation department, Mineral County Health Department, and the Mineral County Family Resource Network

Lead Contact Information:

Stacey Huffman

304-788-3621

Stacey.huffman@mail.wvu.edu

Families on the Move

The partners and youth organizations will develop three family-friendly walking trails and recruit at least 25 families for weekly walking programs. This grant will help get the ball rolling by providing the funding necessary to spread awareness: create and post trail signs, promoting the trails and the project, and print publications about the trail program.

Partners: Mineral County FRN, AmeriCorps VISTA for MCFRN & CASA, WVU Extension, Lifestyle Fitness Center, Change the Future WV, Girls Scouts of America, County Commissioner and Mayor of Ridgeley, Delegate Gary Howell, Keyser City Administrator, Mineral County Health Department, Mineral County Parks & Recreation

Lead Contact Information:

Gerri Mason

304-788-9099

mineralfamilyresourcenetwork@gmail.com

Mingo

Bike Friendly Matewan

The goal of this project is to transform Matewan into a bike-friendly community, encourage citizens and visitors to bicycle in a safe environment, and take steps toward becoming a nationally certified Bike-Friendly Community. The mini-grant award will help fund bike safety course materials, brochures, maps, advertisements, bike racks construction, and general repairs/upkeep of supplies.

Partners: Tug Valley Road Runners Club & the Williamson Wellness Center, the WV Community Development HUB, the Williamson Farmers Market, the Appalachian Leadership Academy

Lead Contact Information:

Kelly M. Webb

606-625-0924

kellywebb@southernwv.edu

Coalfields Food Hub

The partners will build a new hightunnel greenhouse, train students and veterans to garden, and increase production & income at the Williamson Farmers Market and Mobile Market by 2015. The grant will supply the funds to construct the hightunnel and part of teacher stipends.

Partners: Mingo County Diabetes Coalition, Williamson Health & Wellness, the Mingo Development Authority, & Williamson Redevelopment

Lead Contact Information:

Maria Arnot

304-235-3400

marnot@mingodiabetes.com

Monongalia

Christian Help’s Token to Health

The grant will be used for farmers market tokens for families using Christian Help’s Food Pantry to allot to households. This will be a way of introducing SNAP families to the farmers market, thereby encouraging them to use their benefits on fresh, local produce.

Partners: Morgantown Food Market, Christian Help, WVU Extension Services

Lead Contact Information:

Laura Horning

304-296-0221

foodpantry@motown.christianhelp.com

Conscious Harvest Cooperative
With land already donated by a local farmer, this grant will help the Conscious Harvest Cooperative grow food for local pantries with no access to fresh produce. The Cooperative loans garden plots to individuals and partners with local markets. Local families volunteer monthly to maintain the garden. The mini-grant will help fund materials such as picnic tables and seedlings, as well as the construction of a parking lot for the families gardening.

Partners: Conscious Harvest unites WVU students & residents of Morgantown together in a strategy for alternative food sourcing.

Lead Contact Information:

Samantha Maki

304-296-7525

frn@unitedwaympc.org

Nicholas

Richwood Initiative for Healthy Families and Sustainable Future
The grant will pay for healthy cooking classes held at the Richwood Pantry twice a month for six months. The team plans to develop a healthier food pantry by partnering with a local farmer, provide breastfeeding classes, train families to read food labels, and provide food preservation classes.

Partners: AmeriCorps VISTA, WVU Extension, Nicholas County FRN, local gardener George Kinney, PAT, Richwood Pantry, & Nicholas County Starting Points

Lead Contact Information:

Barbie Ratcliff

304-846-4343

ratcliffbarb@hotmail.com

Health & Wellness of RAPP EOP Community

The grant will help pay for 10 extensive sessions related to the health, community resources, and coping skills for people who are caring for disabled relatives. The Helping the Relatives as Parents Program provides support services and healthy strategies for the entire family.

Partners: United Way of Eastern Panhandle, RAPP OEP, WV North American Council of Adoptable Children, West Virginia’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth

Lead Contact Information:

Betty McDonald

304-754-3802

anniem36@frontier.com

Pocahontas

Linwood: Community Natural Learning Environment

The partners will use funds from the minigrant to purchase natural learning environment elements, fencing, plants, and garden supplies for a natural playground in Linwood. There will also be education stations for the children, which include art, music, math, science, and local heritage.

Partners: Grow Appalachia, the Pocahontas County Farmers Market, Snowshoe Mountain Resort, and local construction and landscaping companies

Lead Contact Information:

Tracey Valach

304-572-6580

linwoodcommunitydaycare@gmail.com

Marlinton: Healthy Harvest Food Pantry

This grant will help the Harvest House Food Pantry, which serves 350 households monthly; buy fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers market during the growing season, and canned, frozen or fresh fruits and vegetables from local retailers during the off season. It will also provide education opportunities on topics such as diabetes, making your recipes healthier, hypertension, local exercise opportunities, reading food labels, and food allergies.

Partners: Mountaineer Food Bank, Lions Club, Community Care of Marlinton, Family Outreach and Education Center, Farmer’s Market, WVDHHR, Pocahontas Memorial Hopsital, WV Right from the Start, Go Marlinton Coalition, Pocahontas County Health Department

Lead Contact Information:

Laura Young

304-799-6847

pocahontasfrn@hotmail.com

Putnam

Hometown Elementary School: Community Based Playground

The partners will build a 640’ X 4’ fitness trail on school property and install equipment on the trail that will make the trail accessible for special needs preschool students. With $29,500 contributed from other sources and an in-kind labor donation from the National Guard, this grant will fund mulching and the installation of equipment on the trail.

Partners: Putnam County Schools, Hometown Elementary, ARS, WV Legislature, National Guard, Putnam County Parks & Recreation, Elizabeth Baptist Church

Lead Contact Information:

Barbara Black

304-586-2395

brlblack@access.k12.wv.us

Raleigh

Cooking United Promoting Intelligent Decisions [CUPID Living]

The Raleigh Family Resource Network will offer gardening training and canning classes for community Seniors. The team will build raised community garden beds, accessible to 800 community members. Participants will can 300 lbs of vegetables to distribute to at least 15 families. Partners will also offer healthy shopping and living classes and provide healthy recipes.

Partners: WVU Extension, Keys 4 Healthy Kids, The Center, Raleigh County FRN, Beckley VA Medical Center

Lead Contact Information:

Deborah Williams

304-255-3764

raleighfrn@frontier.com

Taylor

Grafton Community Garden

This grant will buy materials to build raised beds & fence for a community garden. Volunteers will provide at least 100 hours of service to raise produce that can be taken home or sold at the farmers market.

Partners: North Central WV Community Action, Taylor County Starting Points Family Resource Center, WV Healthy Start, Regional Education Services Agencies, Preston/Taylor Parents as Teachers, WVU Extension Service, Rape Domestic Violence Information Center, Taylor County Collaborative FRN, Taylor County Medical Center, Taylor County Health Dept., Hospice Care Corporation, WV Office of Maternal, Child, & Family Health, Change the Future WV

Lead Contact Information:

Jennifer Murray

304-265-3303

jenny.murray@mail.wvu.edu OR PATCHcoalition@gmail.com

Tucker

Hendricks Park – Let’s Play – Playground

This grant will buy playground equipment for a safe playground in Hendricks. The partners have already secured the cost of landscaping. The new playground will be between the Cheat River Water Trail and the Allegheny Highlands Rail Trail. Volunteers from Hendricks, Hambleton and Parsons will contribute 250 volunteer hours to construct the playground.

Partners: Town of Hendricks, Hendricks Town Park, Tucker County Senior Center, Tucker County FRN, Town of Hendricks, Tucker Community Foundation, Hendricks United Methodist Women

Lead Contact Information:

Solena Roberts

304-642-1523

tuckerfrn@hotmail.com

Upshur

Buckhannon: Community Raised Garden Beds.

This funding will buy lumber, supplies, and signage costs necessary to allow Create Buckhannon volunteers to construct 45 raised beds. Between 45 to 100 individuals and families will till the beds each year, providing them with produce and a hands-on learning experience.

Partners: The Parish House & the Opportunity House, Create Buckhannon, Upshur County CVB, WV Wesleyan College, City of Buckhannon

Lead Contact Information:

Laura Meadows

304-473-1400

create.buckhannon@gmail.com

Webster

Journey to Wellness

This grant will help the partners maintain a “Journey to Wellness” community website page and newsletter that will offer fitness DVDs through the Webster County library. The coalition also will provide equipment & incentives for 100 attendees at the Webster County Memorial Hospital’s Kids’ Health & Wellness Camp. Through the newsletter, the team will increase participation in annual weight loss contest (the Journey to Wellness Challenge) by 10 people.

Partners: Webster County FRN, Webster County Health Dept., Webster County Memorial Hospital, Webster County Fitness Center, WVU Ext. Office, Cowen Public Library, Webster-Addison Library

Lead Contact Information:

Todd Farlow

304-847-2943

coordinator@wvfrn.com

Wyoming

SADD’s Got P.O.W.E.R. (Wyoming)

Wyoming County’s Students Against Destructive Decisions will use this grant to organize a County Youth Health Coalition that will create a community garden; create a SADD running team that will compete in two 5Ks and create a SADD biking team. The project will provide opportunities for healthier choices by connecting youth to their “anti-drug,” (i.e. biking, running, gardening, sports, dance, etc.

Partners: Students Against Destructive Decisions, Wyo. FRN, Wyoming Family Resource Center, Wyo. VISTA for Youth Coalition, Wyoming County Board of Education, Wyoming County Prevention Coalition

Lead Contact Information:

Kathy Brunty

304-923-4280

wyofrnwv@webs.com