13 faith-based communities and churches gathered at Lima Memorial Hospital this morning(10/22/19) for an awards banquet.
The funds given to these groups were provided in support of Activated Faith Community Challenge, which encourages local faith-based communities to take control of their health - whether it be mental, physical or spiritual. The groups being recognized were not only given financial assistance but technical support and any other resources they may need for a healthier organization.
"What it is is to bring those church communities and to let them know that not only do we need to be mind, body, and spirit, we need to be an all-around healthy community."
The Activated Faith Community Challenge is hoping to be a starting point for these communities to continue their plans beyond this year.
Most of the awards were near $500 and over $7,000 were awarded in total. You can find the complete list of the 13 faith-based organizations and their plans below:
- Church on the Rock will be working to provide healthier food options and install an intercom system to support breastfeeding mothers and families with young children to still hear the service even if they have to step out to the nursery.
- Church Women United (Mizpah Community Center) will be purchasing additional physical activity equipment to increase the kids' access to meaningful activity options and reinforce health behaviors with positive signage.
- First Mennonite Bluffton will implement a strategy to support multi-age physical activity options and make activity options accessible to their congregation through a partnership with the Bluffton Family Recreation Center.
- Future Church will be collaborating with other community partners to host a Family Vacation Bible School and a Community Block Party, promoting community togetherness, fellowship and pro-social activities.
- Lima Mennonite Church will increase overall mental wellness and stress coping skills within the church and offer mindfulness education to the Lima Community at no cost.
- Market Street Presbyterian Church will increase fellowship, community, and pro-social activities through neighborhood meals and blessing boxes.
- New Life Christian Church (Baby Project) will enhance the experience of the mothers in the BABY Project by exposing them to healthy eating and meal preparation experiences.
- Philippian Missionary Baptist Church will empower their community to begin or maintain a healthy lifestyle through a health screening and teaching event.
- Second Baptist Church will partner with the Lima/Allen County Black Ministerial Alliance to host healthy activities and walking/running clubs as a build-up to a 5k (similar to a Couch to 5k approach).
- South Side Christian Church will increase mental health awareness through hosting a clergy training session. In addition, they plan to assist those who prepare meals at church to consider more healthy options through hosting a training and food demonstration.
- St. John’s Catholic Church will create a Meditation Garden on their property to promote mindfulness and prayer, in addition to beautifying the space in the community.
- St. Mark’s United Methodist Church will implement healthy food signage and recipes in their food pantry will restart a walking group along with an incentive program and are planning to host a Mental Health First Aid training.
- St. Mary’s Catholic Church (St. Mary’s Catholic Christian Preschool) will increase the children’s access to physical activity by providing appropriate and meaningful activity equipment.
