Haywood County Extension Be More has partnered with Haywood County Schools’ Purple Pantry to enhance access to healthy foods. The partnership focuses on adopting policies and procedures that promote healthy choices, including limiting the distribution of highly processed foods, eliminating candy and sugar-sweetened beverages, and offering nutrition education through food demonstrations and tasting samples to inspire healthy meal ideas (see Jamya pictured below). 

Haywood County Be More continues to provide guidance and support for implementing these changes and improving the quality of foods offered. Community support for these efforts is growing! A recent donation will fund fresh produce until local school gardens are fully operational.

Aligned with Be More’s initiatives to increase access to physical activity, the NAACP has launched a community walking challenge to encourage movement and wellness. Volunteer participation continues to grow as well, helping the pantry deliver enhanced services.

The City of Sardis is expanding community wellness opportunities through recent improvements at Sardis City Park, supported by the Tennessee Department of Health Active Living Workshop Seed Money Funding. The funding provided three new benches along the walking track and three double-sided signs featuring simple bench-based exercises to encourage physical activity among park visitors.

Community momentum continues as local leaders and residents collaborate to improve access to physical activity. Recent steps include establishing a Parks Advisory Committee and beginning work on a long-term master plan to guide future park enhancements.

The Livability Indicators project highlights key factors that shape quality of life in Tennessee communities. Created by the Tennessee Livability Collaborative—a partnership of 26 state agencies, departments, commissions, and academic institutions—the project offers a public platform to explore data across more than sixty indicators.

These indicators, developed through a multi-agency process, span topics such as economic development, housing, transportation, education, and employment. Click here to explore your county and see the factors shaping livability statewide.

Importance of Community Partnerships

The High Obesity Program is made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the CDC or imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Learn more about the High Obesity Program (HOP) program at https://www.cdc.gov/dnpao-state-local-programs/php/about/.