Creating Healthy Schools and Communities in Salamanca

Make Communities has partnered with Erie 1 Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and Healthy Community Alliance (HCA) in Cattaraugus County on a “Creating Healthy Schools and Communities” initiative. This long term and cross-sector approach appreciates and responds to the many inputs and obstacles to creating healthier, happier and more livable communities. Together we are focusing on five districts starting in Salamanca and continuing to Gowanda, Randolph, Yorkshire-Pioneer and Franklinville to increase access to healthy foods and transportation options in schools and in the broader community.

As part of the effort, Justin Booth will host a Complete Streets Workshop in Randolph on April 26. The workshop will be at the Municipal Building, 72 Main St. in the Community Room. The event starts at 6 p.m and you can RSVP by email or by calling 664-1787 and speaking with Tom Congdon.

Thanks to all our partners in the Cattaraugus County for their incredible support and enthusiasm for this project. The Salamanca press ran an article explaining the effort and its early successes. Click on the quote below for the full story.

“The program is spearheaded by a team including Community Wellness Coordinator Kaitlyn Summers MS, RD; School Wellness Coordinator Kate Huber, Erie 1 BOCES; and Complete Streets Coordinator Justin Booth, principal at Make Communities LLC.

Huber said this new grant is a combination of three different grants that were previously in existence and all funded by the state Department of Health. Under this grant, schools will receive technical assistance, coaching and resources to increase healthy options in the cafeteria and wherever food is sold or served, including concessions at sports events and classroom celebrations.

According to Huber, the schools will also work to increase the amount of physical activity that students take part in to better meet the recommendation of 60 minutes of rigorous to moderate exercise per day. The school component of the program will also aim to get the whole family involved with increased physical activity and healthy eating at home.”