Vineland
July 9, 2015
Vineland’s summer Park Hop Series kicked off June 29 and will continue through August 6. Designed to bring residents into city parks over the summer, Park Hop will present activities throughout Vineland in parks that often are underutilized. “Each day, an event will take place at a different park,” explained David Calderetti, project manager of New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Vineland (NJPHK-V). A Vineland resident can start off the week with sunrise yoga, join a lunchtime walk on Tuesday or Wednesday, catch a game of soccer on Wednesday evening and make new friends while playing Ultimate Frisbee on Thursdays. “We want to showcase a range of creative active play and games–like yoga or Ultimate Frisbee–that don’t require special equipment. You can just show up, get active and have a lot of fun,” said Calderetti. The vital aim is to help residents reclaim the parks and use them regularly beyond the […]
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May 13, 2015
Originally published in The Press of Atlantic City, Thomas Barlas-Staff Writer The baskets of apples, oranges and bananas are in plain sight for customers entering the Downtown Grocery and Deli on Wood Street. The location is perfect for enticing store customers to buy a healthy piece of fruit instead of an unhealthy snack, said Sara Paciocco, of the city’s Health Department. “It’s more available now that it’s in the open,” Paciocco said, adding she hopes more of the city’s mom-and-pop stores make the same kind of change. The Downtown Grocery and Deli is one of five local groceries participating in the New Jersey Healthy Corner Store Initiative. The program urges those stores to sell more fruit, fresh vegetables and other products lower in salt, sodium and fat. Officials with various health-related organizations visited the store Wednesday to help launch the program, which is also operating in Camden, Trenton, Newark and […]
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May 2, 2015
NJPHK-Vineland (NJPHK-V) and its partners are celebrating a Safe Routes to School grant with far-reaching potential. The $275,000 grant will be used to improve the infrastructure around Gloria M. Sabater Elementary School making the environment safer for walkers and bikers. Located in the city of Vineland, Sabater has the most walkers of the nine Vineland schools. The school has been a proponent of walk and bike to school days. Now, Vineland city engineers will add curbing, sidewalks and other improvements to the environment surrounding the school, which will ease the way for students. Vineland was one of 24 New Jersey municipalities that received a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grant totaling, $275,000 from the state of New Jersey. “We are thrilled to be selected as one of the recipients of the Safe Route to School Grant,” said Lisa Scheetz, project manager of NJPHK-V, “Being awarded this grant is another great […]
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May 2, 2015
As one of the first Live Healthy Vineland initiatives, the Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA will be offering the YMCA diabetes prevention program. Classes for Vineland city employees kicked off at Vineland City Hall in April, followed by programs for the community at Bottino’s Shoprite Supermarket. The YMCA Diabetes Prevention program gives participants the skills and support they need to make lasting healthy lifestyle changes. “We are so thankful Bottino’s stepped up to sponsor this program for Vineland residents,” said Lisa Scheetz, project manager for New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Vineland. “Thanks to Bottino’s and the Y, participants will enjoy a safe space where they can feel comfortable sharing and learning in private. It’s all about achieving a healthy weight, boosting energy levels, reducing the risk for diabetes and improving health for life.” In addition, thank you to the Philadelphia Reinvestment Fund for providing a $10,000 grant to offer the YDPP […]
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May 2, 2015
A $450,000 grant from the Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH) which is funded by the Center for Disease Control, is enabling New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Vineland (NJPHK-V) to take a giant leap towards community wellness. The $450,000 is an initial grant toward a three-year award of $1.35 million and will allow NJPHK-V to expand its efforts to help reduce chronic diseases such as obesity and address environmental factors contributing to health disparities that currently affect nearly 75 percent of all Vineland residents. As part of the “Collective Impact for Health Equity in Vineland City” initiative, NJPHK-V partnered with the Vineland City Health Department, Family Health Initiative, Stockton College and the Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA to win the grant. NJPHK-V will continue to work with these partners and others within Vineland to advance health equity. Within three years, the goal is to have healthier food choices in more corner […]
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November 11, 2014
New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Vineland (NJPHK-V) recently received an initial grant of $450,000 toward a three-year $1.35 million award from the Partnership to Improve Community Health (PICH), a program funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The funds to help reduce chronic diseases such as obesity and address environmental factors contributing to health disparities that currently affect nearly 75 percent of all Vineland residents. Since its inception in 2009, NJPHK-V has made significant progress in ensuring Vineland families have access to healthy choices. These successes include: creating bike lanes; sponsoring monthly fun and fitness events in the business district during spring and summer months; securing commitments from five Vineland corner stores and restaurants to provide healthier product choices; assisting with the development of a wellness policy and creating a wellness council in the Vineland public school district benefiting nearly 10,000 students. “This grant allows us to expand […]
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November 11, 2014
The United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey selected New Jersey Partnership of Healthy Kids-Vineland (NKPHK-V) as a targeted health investment. United Way will provide $81,000 for next three years to fund NKPHK-V in its efforts to reverse obesity rates among Vineland’s children. A particular focus will be on making it easier for children to walk and bike in Vineland. In announcing the grant, Alice Woods, United Way executive director noted that “Vineland children are more likely than other American youngsters to be overweight or obese. In fact, despite living in an agricultural community, 90 percent of kids do not eat the recommended amount of vegetables, and the majority of them don’t get enough physical activity.” “We want to send a BIG thank you to United Way,” said Lisa Scheetz, NJPHK-V project manager. “We are honored that they are supporting the partnership as we work to expand safe […]
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October 25, 2014
Participants in the October 25th Halloween Bone Run & Walk got a great workout on a beautiful day and benefited the work of New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Vineland (NJPHK-V). United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey’s sponsored the run held at Parvin State Park. Proceeds support United Way’s targeted health investments in Cumberland County, one of which is NJPHK-V. United Way regards the Bone Run as its signature fundraising event. From all accounts, the race/walk was “Spooktacular!” A record number of runners and walkers participated. Cash prizes were awarded to the top five male and top five female finishers. In conjunction with the race, participants and observers enjoyed an interactive health fair, music provided by a DJ and a bounce house. SHARE:
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September 21, 2014
There’s a healthy alternative to ice cream and ice pops on the way. New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Vineland (NJPHK-Vineland) is working with the Rutgers University Food Innovation Centerto produce and distribute green wave smoothie pops which blend fruits and greens to provide a refreshing and healthy summer popsicle. The pops will use produce from local farmers. “Our goal is to sell healthy food at concession stands during the summer months,” says Lisa Scheetz, NJPHK-Vineland project manager. “We will distribute the pops to the Y for its summer camps and to concession stands at local ball parks, as well as to our corner stores and Vineland public schools.” SHARE:
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September 21, 2014
The road to wellness in Vineland public schools has had some detours and standstills, but a critical milestone has been achieved: effective September 2014, Vineland Public Schools commenced the new school year with an improved Wellness Policy that commits to providing students with healthy foods; supporting nutrition education; and making daily physical activity a priority. Several components of the policy are particularly important for addressing obesity among children in Vineland, according to Sara Paciocco, health education field representative for the city of Vineland Department of Health. The District has committed to championing nutrition education and to communicating with parents about healthy food and physical activity. The policy also endorses establishing staff wellness councils that can guide staff in how to encourage a healthy lifestyle. A Safe Routes to School clause in the policy commits the board to assessing and “if necessary and to the extent possible” making improvements to facilitate […]
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