Chelsea Completes Wellness Plan, Applies for Grant Funding for Healthy Foods and Fitness Programs

By Amy Heydlauff

CHELSEA — At the June 25 meeting of the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation (CWF), the Foundation and three of its "5 Healthy Town" coalition partners met a major milestone.

After more than a year and a half of planning, the Chelsea, Manchester and Stockbridge Wellness Coalitions submitted comprehensive wellness plans to CWF for funding. All three plans were approved in their entirety.

“The board is honored to commit total funding of approximately $500,000 in support of the tireless efforts of many community members in all three communities," Jeff Hardcastle, chairman of the CWF said. "They’ve given of their time and talents to help their communities begin a journey that leads to communities with a culture of wellness.”

The Chelsea Coalition wellness plan addresses all four of the CWF vision areas. Eat better interventions include improved farmers 'markets with food assistance programs and a paid market manager to oversee both the Wednesday Bushel Basket market and the Saturday Chelsea Farmers' Market.

Chelsea also requested funding for an intergenerational garden, a children's cooking camp and a community reading program. The program will be focused on eating better and the book "In Defense of Food." In addition, coalition representatives will work with interested local restaurants in an effort to increase offerings for those seeking smaller portions, lower fats and sodium and fewer calories when they eat out.

Move more interventions for the first year include Safe Routes to School, a national program to increase the number of school-age children who walk and bike to school. The coalition is working with local elementary schools on fitness programs including the NFL’s Fuel Up to Play 60 program. Development of an activity resource guide, posted on the Chelsea website is underway. In addition the plan calls for funding of the annual Chelsea Community Hospital Heart & Sole and Run for the Rolls races.

Chelsea also applied for matching funds to support its SRSLY program, a community coalition established to prevent destructive behavior in Chelsea youth. The federal grant underwriting SRSLY requires local matching funds and in-kind donations. Interventions encouraging connecting with others include the development of a volunteer portal, where organizations can find volunteers and volunteers can connect with organizations in need. The local faith community will begin an interdenominational supper club.

Andy Ingall, coalition member and Chelsea Schools superintendent said the coalition is eager to get started after many months of planning.

“We’re excited to move forward with our projects in and around Chelsea. This is another example of the strength of our community and our ability to come together around a common cause," he said.

The Manchester Wellness Coalition was the first to submit their 5H plan. They have an aggressive agenda laid out in their four-year plan. First year eat better interventions include expanding the Healthy Chef program through the schools and the community and school garden. They are also planning small farm market enhancements in 2012. Their most highly coordinated project is the five-a-day toolkit. This innovative four-week program provides support, resources and encouragement for anyone who is interested in increasing their daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

Ruth Van Bogelen, a Wellness Coalition member reported “One family of six completed the program and the father said it was one of the best things the family had done together. They thought they were eating healthy,but by tracking they realized they could do more."

Manchester interventions to encourage connecting with others include a walking and biking project and a community reading program. This year all five towns —Manchester, Stockbridge, Chelsea, Dexter, and Grass Lake — will read the same book and develop local and regional programming to coincide with the read.

“It is exciting for the foundation to see this milestone achieved. The Manchester Wellness Plan is the culmination of a lot of hard work by community members who see not only the personal benefits that will result, but also a community with a culture of wellness that will draw people to their
community and result in an economic benefit for all," Dexter resident Larry Cobler, chairman of the CWF Comprehensive Wellness Committee said.

Stockbridge took an entirely different tact with their 5H plan. The major focus of their plan is the opening of the Stockbridge Area Wellness Center. It is the coalition’s hope a wellness center will become a center for not only moving more, but also connecting with others in healthy ways, eating better and avoiding unhealthy substances. Stockbridge envisions programs including speakers who address nutrition, exercise classes for special populations and other specialized programs.

“Everywhere I go I bump into people who want to express their excitement regarding the potential of a wellness center for the greater Stockbridge area," Brian Johnson, pastor of the First Baptist Church said. "We’ve all seen that the need is great for a place to not only improve our health physically, but also serve as a catalyst for other forms of improved health in other areas of our communitylife. What began as a dream for a wellness center is now going to be realized and with it comes the profound impact it will have on our community.”

For more information about the Stockbridge, Manchester or Chelsea Wellness Coalition or the 5H plan, call Matt Pegouskie at the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation, 734-433-4599.

The Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation governed by a volunteer board of directors. The foundation serves the populations included in the school districts of Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake, Manchester and Stockbridge. The CWF will grant funds for projects dedicated to creating a culture of wellness and sustainable improvements in health.