Page Alliance for Community Action involved in programs for healthy families

LURAY, Virginia - February 26, 2013 - The Page Alliance for Community Action along with Page County Public Schools has several projects working for healthier youth and families in Page County.

            Families, Food & Fun is a four-week nutrition program sponsored by the PACA Nutrition Team, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth. Parents and children will gather at Stanley United Methodist Church on Tuesday afternoons to learn about good nutrition and prepare healthful meals. Attendance is required at all four sessions, and families will enjoy dinner, play games and take home a bag of groceries each week. To register or to volunteer for the program, contact Bobbi Wells or Susan Betcher at 843-2808.

            Just in time for spring registration, PACA and the Page County Recreation Department are stocking a 'lending closet' for gently-used sports equipment, clothes and athletic shoes. At the request of PACA, the department is offering a sliding scale for program registrations. These programs fall under the umbrella of PACA's administration of a childhood obesity grant administered by Betcher. For more information on reduced registration or the lending closet, contact Betcher or Page County's Recreation Director Tony Painter at 743-1180. In Shenandoah call Lori Mongold at 540-578-4307.

PACA has also negotiated free entrance fees with Chris Gould for Page County residents in Category 5 (beginning) races for any Page Valley Cycling event. With moneys from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, PACA is purchasing a timer for races, which it will share with the community. Safety vests will also be purchased with funds from this grant, to be used by volunteers during local racing events. Last fall, 167 youth volunteered or participated in the inaugural Turkey Trot. PACA hopes to have them return for April's 'Earth Day on the Greenway' run.

            PACA was instrumental in providing educational signage along Luray's Hawksbill Greenway. The signs give fitness tips, and were installed in conjunction with the town and the obesity program. Additionally, PACA is promoting the Safe Routes to Schools grant program for Stanley Elementary School. The Town of Stanley received the grant to improve pedestrian crosswalks and speed signs near SES. In Shenandoah, two new kiosks offer health and fitness information as well as information on events in the community.

            Another aspect of the obesity prevention program is an elementary school nutrition program that includes sampling, education and family involvement. Students are trying a variety of new foods, including broccoli, pears, berries and jicama. A lesson on the fruit or vegetable accompanies the sampling, and students take home a letter to parents telling them about the sampling. Diane Dovel, food service director for Page County Public Schools, is coordinating sampling as well as serving as much locally- and regionally-grown food as possible. So far, more than 1700 samplings have been distributed.

During the growing season of April through October, Mighty Oak Farms, a local produce stand that sets up on North Broad Street in Luray, has agreed to accept EBT (electronic benefit transfer) cards for purchases, which meet food stamp guidelines for the Virginia Department of Social Services Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

For more information on PACA, contact Wells at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .