Since 2009, the Capital Area Wellness Coalition (CAWC) has been working to promote healthy eating and active living in the Capital region. The CAWC is a volunteer coalition consisting of representatives from Concord Hospital, Concord YMCA, City of Concord, Community Action Program, Central N.H. Bike Coalition, UNH Cooperative Extension, Merrimack County Conservation District, Delta Dental, Concord Regional VNA, Granite United Way, Dartmouth Hitchcock, The Lawson Group and other community agencies.
In trying to address obesity in the region, especially childhood obesity, the CAWC has been hard at work on a variety of initiatives including the Concord Trail Passport, 5210 Healthy N.H. and partnering with the N.H. Food Bank to offer Cooking Matters.
More recently, after receiving a grant from Concord Hospital, the CAWC has forged a relationship with the Concord School District to implement the 5210 Healthy N.H. program, which focuses on consuming five fruits and vegetables, no more than two hours of recreational screen-time, at least one hour of physical activity and zero sugar-sweetened beverages.
The CAWC also hosts a variety of events and encourages the community to join in. Here’s a few to mark in your calendar:
Mayor’s Walk Downtown, Sept. 27 at noon.
Meet at the SMILE Building at 49 S. Main St. and join Mayor Jim Bouley for this lunchtime stroll, including refreshments and raffles.
Mayor’s Hike Sewells Falls Trail, Sept. 30 at 9 a.m.
Meet at the trailhead on Sewells Falls Road and join Mayor Bouley for a recreational hike that includes scavenger hunt for kids, prizes and refreshments
Family Wellness Festival, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Grappone Toyota on Rt. 3A, Bow.
Bring the kids and check out this interactive event that includes car seat safety checks, kids fitness challenge, flu shots, fruit and veggie tasting station, instrument petting zoo, bike helmet fitting (bring your helmet), Lego activities and much more!
More details about these events, the Concord Trail Passport and 5210 can be found at capwellness.org.
To learn more about Cooking Matters, visit nhfoodbank.org/programs.
The CAWC is always looking for partners who would like to make a difference in the health of residents in the Capital area.
For more information, please contact Valerie Ferland at vferland@crhc.org or 230-7311.
Ferland is the Health Outreach Coordinator for Concord Hospital Center for Health Promotion and serves as the coordinator of the Capital Area Wellness Coalition. The CAWC meets monthly on the second Wednesday at 8 a.m. at the Center for Health Promotion, 49 S. Main St. in Concord. Visit capwellness.org to learn more.
