Staying healthy during the pandemic takes some planning and preparation according to a recent article from the Minnesota Department of Health, “Do your best to eat nourishing meals, like those rich in fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Those foods can help keep your body and mind healthy during stressful times.”
In an effort to assist local families registered with the Bester Elementary School Health Center a plan was created and funding secured from charitable donors such as: Health Resources and Services Administration, Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program, Hamilton Nissan and the Fletcher Foundation to provide the students and their families with healthy food and fitness resources. These items were delivered to 95 South Hagerstown families on January 14th and 15th by employees of The Bester Community of Hope (BCOH) and The South End 21 (SE21) After-School Program, both initiatives of San Mar Family and Community Services.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic students in Washington County Public Schools are receiving instruction virtually, therefore they cannot access the Bester Health Center in-person. In an effort to connect with students and ensure that they were “staying healthy”, staff from San Mar repositioned dollars to purchase a variety of items to promote healthy eating, exercise and well-being.
Each family received the following: 44 lbs. of fresh fruits and vegetables from local supplier Greensburg Farms with exciting and easy recipes for the items in each box; A Garmin VivoSmart 4 watch for each youth to promote and monitor heathy living; two bottles of San Mar Hand Sanitizer “The Good Stuff”; and a vegetable “Zoodler” for home cooking.
Local families were very appreciative of the efforts and resources and expressed their appreciation “Thank you so much for the delivery today, I am so excited, you made my week! Another resident proclaimed, “Please tell whoever is responsible for this, THANK YOU for thinking about my family!
