February 12, 2018
On December 13th and 14th, we held the first in-person Faithful Families training for our national partners in Raleigh, NC. Five new partnering states joined the Faithful Families national partnership, and we had representatives from thirteen states across the U.S.
January 8, 2018
Why is there such a stark discrepancy between the terms health and healthy churches? Shouldn’t there be more interwoven similarities between the two? Amy Hanson, a strong promoter of faith community nursing, looked at this very issue in her state of Indiana. In the Fall 2017 Issue of Perspectives, Amy shared her experience with supporting health in faith communities through the Faithful Families program. Continue reading
July 24, 2017
Faithful Families is proud to have partners across the country who are implementing the program with their faith communities. One such partner, at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension EFNEP, shared a collection of participant stories and testimonials. Take a look at these inspiring stories!
July 21, 2017
Micro Original Freewill Baptist Chuch is located in the small farming community of Micro, North Carolina. The church’s mission is to “reach out to members, potential members and website visitors, and help them grow spiritually by providing resources that work in conjunction with our church services and outreach ministries.” The church has multiple youth organizations, adult organizations, and provides a healthy allotment of bible study, sermons, and activities each month. Micro Original Freewill Baptist Church is also affiliated with The Richard & Carolyn Hinnant Community Outreach Center, which is dedicated to providing services for the extended Micro community as a ministry of the church.
St. Luke Church of Christ, Princeville
April 13, 2017
Yvonne Murphy, Program Associate with the NC Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) partnered with St. Luke Church of Christ in Princeville to carry out a vibrant Faithful Families program in partnership with the wellness committee at the church. Through this curriculum, participants are challenged to make positive changes to achieve good nutrition and health, increase physical activity, control portion sizes, practice food resource management skills, practice food safety in preparation and practice safe storage and handling of food.
On September 8th the NC Division of Public Health and Extension at NC State University held the 2016 Faithful Families Summit, at the Crabtree Marriot in Raleigh, North Carolina. Nearly 200 North Carolina and national Faithful Families partners met that day with a shared goal of creating lasting changes to support healthy eating and physical activity in faith communities.
October 27, 2015
October 14, 2015, was a day to celebrate at Peletah Ministries in New Bern, North Carolina. The faith community was awarded a grant from the USDA Farmers’ Market Promotion Program for over $94,000 to enhance the work they are currently doing through their Joseph Community Market, which started in 2014.
August 19, 2015
Want to learn about some great community garden projects in North Carolina? Our friends at Voices into Action: The Families, Food, and Health Project have funded several community garden mini-grant projects. Here’s an update on two of those gardens in Lee County.
Originally posted by Voices into Action here.
by Zandra Alford
Dawn Wilde Burgess, Community Health Promotion Supervisor with Macon County, NC has been busy developing an promoting a successful Faithful Families program. Macon County Public Health worked with Holly Springs Baptist Church and other faith communities to implement the program, with assistance from the Community Transformation Grant program in their region. They were met with great success – in one congregation 86% of participants reported eating smaller portions and 86% of participants reported they were more mindful about what they ate.
I am having to face facts, whether I like it or not, I am getting older and I need to add a fresh dimension to my exercise routine. I know you don’t have to join a gym, train for a 5K, or buy expensive gear, but I have found a great way to motivate yourself is to team up with a fitness buddy. I cannot think of a better buddy than my granddaughter!