Cox Communications recently awarded $160,000 in grants to 25 non-profits throughout the state. In Roanoke the Smart Beginnings early childhood education program, the Community Youth Program at St. John’s (for computer literacy), the Blue Ridge Independent Living Center and the Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center all received between $2000 and $10,000 dollars.
Another $10,000 grant was awarded to Child Health Investment Partnership of Roanoke Valley – CHIP – for a program that addresses the growing issue of childhood obesity among low-income children in the valley.
CHIP CEO Robin Haldeman said the CHIP FIT program is in its second year, “providing nutrition…and exercise education to families in those very first years.” Get people eating right, especially when they are young, can help avoid childhood obesity and health issues down the road she notes.
CHIP FIT starts by guiding families on what should be in their infant’s bottle – and goes from there. The Cox Charities grant will help pay for the instructional materials needed by the CHIP FIT program, which teaches “everything from moral health to overall health,” as Haldeman puts it. The importance of exercise – including not leaving a baby in a swing for too long in front of the TV – is stressed.
Family activities on the Roanoke River Greenway are now being promoted. There are healthy cooking classes as well, assisted by the Junior League and other volunteers.
“We can teach them nutritious cooking on a budget,” said Haldeman, “We want them to establish good, healthy habits before they enter school.” Parents or guardians get the same tips and guidance on health issues since they have the most influence on their children.
Research shows that lower-income children and families in general tend to be more overweight or even obese (more than 20 lbs. ideal weight). “It’s expensive to eat healthy,” said Haldeman, “and it’s a matter of education.”
But there are inexpensive foods that can be healthy – she points to beans and rice as one example. “As a society we’re so used to fast food, and quick and easy. That’s not always a very nutritious way to go.”
Getting children involved with cooking, “getting them excited about vegetables…and getting them outside,” is a goal of CHIP FIT. Outdoor activity for children is more difficult said Haldeman if the families live in public housing projects or in neighborhoods where parents don’t feel safe in letting their kids play unsupervised. “They end up having a lot of screen time indoors (TV, computer, phone), which is also very unhealthy.”
Getting out to the greenway or a park in a part of town where families feel safe is something CHIP is trying to promote via the CHIP FIT program. That means lower health care costs as well, fewer visits to a doctor’s office or a clinic – where someone else might be picking up the tab.
The Cox grant will help pay for those cooking classes; there are also CHIP home visits that the money will help finance.
The Smart Beginnings 10K grant will go towards early childhood education programs, while the money awarded to St. John’s (5K) will help with internet access for students and families.
The Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center was awarded a smaller grant that will be used to help overcome the learning challenges associated with autism, where socialization and comprehension can be an issue.
By Gene Marrano
