A student-run food bank is part of the latest effort to combat childhood obesity in Virginia.
Students at Andrew Lewis Middle School in Salem cut the ribbon on their new food bank Friday. The school’s principal hopes it could eventually provide 300 families with food and education about healthy eating.
They’re getting help from a Healthy Communities Action Team, made up of church and community groups like the Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries. It is funded by a nearly $60,000 grant from the Virginia Foundation for Health Youth.
Grant coordinator Jenny Martin says the 22 community action teams around the state are making progress against childhood obesity. "We’ve seen some encouraging trends with relation to sugar sweetened beverage consumption across the state really coming down," Martin said. "Those kids who are choosing to drink soda in particular are decreasing."
Martin says a Virginia Youth Survey also shows more kids are making drinking water a part of their daily routine.
Click here to read more about VFHY and Health Community Action Teams
