|
AHA has been out and about in the community quite a bit in the past month. We met a lot of great people at the WakeMed Scrub Run, the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Kidsfest, our Brains and Bodies Workshop on edible school gardens, Parents Play Day, and at other events. We've also been in touch with many school staff and parents who participated in National Walk to School Day.
We hope you enjoy hearing what AHA is doing in the community and will share it with friends and colleagues. We welcome your feedback! |
| Connecting Local Farmers & Businesses | |
Wake County community members have numerous opportunities to buy locally grown foods direct from farmers. What is more challenging, however, is an efficient way for area businesses to buy healthy, local foods from local farmers for their customers.
 A growing number of businesses, such as WakeMed Cary Hospital, which buys at least 40 percent of the food sold in its cafeteria locally, are sourcing local ingredients to some degree. Restaurants and some area grocery stores are increasingly providing this option to diners and customers as well.
To connect businesses, institutions, restaurants and others who are procuring foods with farmers, AHA is working to build a local food system infrastructure.
Connecting the Dots: Register for Nov. 17 Workshop
AHA invites you to "Connecting the Dots: Creating a Local Food System in Wake County" featuring guest speaker and facilitator Heather Wooten, MCP, Public Health & Law Policy's Planning Healthy Places Program. Ms. Wooten will share information about how other communities are meeting this same challenge and guide the process here in Wake County through AHA's partners.
Hear about the current situation in Wake County and be part of the discussion as we begin building a local food system.
WHEN: Thurs., Nov. 17, 8:30 am-1:30 pm
WHERE: Wake County Commons Building, 4011 Carya Dr., Raleigh
REGISTER: Register online today! $15 (including lunch).
Local Food Champions
 AHA thanks Whole Foods Market (the Cary and Wade Ave. stores) for their generous support as a Harvest Sponsor in AHA's Local Food Champions program. Local Food Champions are helping to fund local food initiatives throughout Wake County, such as this event, Dig In next spring, Lunch In, Farm It Forward and more. Thanks also to the Raleigh Downtown Farmers' Market, Friends of Local Food.
Please contact AHA if you or your organization would like to be a Local Food Champion! |
| Raleigh Funds Greenways & Sidewalks! | |
 Last week, Raleigh voters approved a $40 million transportation bond, echoing leaders' support for active transportation for the City of Raleigh. The bond includes funding for greenways, bike lanes and sidewalks, which will go a long way towards creating an active and healthier community.
Learn more about the bond and its significance from Sig Hutchinson, locally known as Mr. Greenjeans, on AHA's web site. |
|
Food Day: Oct. 24 in Raleigh | |
 Food Day, sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, is a national effort to to bring together people (parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and eaters of all types) to advocate for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way.
Food Day in Raleigh
In Raleigh, Food Day will be celebrated with "NC Game Changers," featuring a keynote speech from Dr. Barry Popkin, author of The World Is Fat, on the importance of access to healthy food in North Carolina.
The day also features a showcase of projects and programs that work to increase access to healthy foods in North Carolina and a miniature farmers' market outside of the legislative building.
CEFS Brickyard Celebration of Food Day
On Wed., Oct. 26, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) will host a celebration at the CEFS Brickyard on NC State's campus. This outreach event will encourage people to "EAT REAL" and advocate for food produced in a healthy way. AHA and others in the community will be there!
WHEN: 10 am-2 pm, Oct. 26
|
| Jumping Jacks to Break World Record! |
 Last week, there was a whole lot of jumping going on across last Wake County! It was all part of the Let's Jump! challenge to help break the Guinness world record for the highest number of people doing jumping jacks for one minute. Students at area schools, including Dillard Drive Elementary, Mills Park Elementary, Morrisville Elementary, St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School, Wiley Elementary and others, plus staff and visitors at Marbles Kids Museum, and Excel Body Fitness members joined in the challenge to try to beat the record of 20,000 jumpers.
|
|
|
 AHA fosters and supports community efforts to make healthy eating and physical activity the way of life in Wake County. Simply put, we are working to make the healthy choice the easy choice!
|
|
|
|
