Over the past two years, Eat Smart Move More South Carolina has funded 28 communities across South Carolina for small-scale projects that helped catapult their healthy eating and active living (HEAL) initiatives. Now, ESMMSC is entering its fourth of five rounds of the mini-grant application process. Communities, schools, municipalities, and non-profits are encouraged to apply for funding for healthy eating and active living projects. The application deadline is January 15.
The mini-grants, up to $5,000, should be used to implement projects that support policy, system, or environmental changes. In most of the examples below, project leaders leveraged funds:
- Shady Grove Baptist Church Community Garden: Located in a food desert in Greenville County, Shady Grove Baptist Church wanted to increase the capacity of their community garden to feed more people in their community. To accomplish this goal, church leaders and garden volunteers were in need of tools to help cultivate and harvest the produce. Funds were used to purchase those tools for a community garden that was still in its early stages of growth.
- Engaging the Youth of Bamberg County: The Bamberg County Health Coalition used funds to create two HYPE teams: 1) youth from both school districts and 2) youth involved in Job Corps. Both HYPE team were trained on The HYPE Project to engage youth in health and wellness projects. Upon completion of the training, the HYPE teams identified and completed the following projects: 1) the school districts team revitalized a park in the Town of Bamberg by repairing the swings and tennis court and 2) the Job Corps team created a community garden at the Job Corps site to feed the community.
- Eat Smart Move More Newberry County Summer Wellness Challenge: The Summer Wellness Challenge, open to all elementary school students in Newberry County, promoted the use of community resources that support healthy eating and physical activity during Summer break. Funds were used to print flyers and challenge cards to help students track their summer activity, and to purchase prize incentives for those who participated. This project also included a parent survey to help identify community perceptions about access to HEAL resources.
- Destination Downtown Dillon – Keep in the Loop: The City of Dillon has been working to make it a walk-friendly community. As a result of their Active Corridors Plan, the city identified a one-mile walkable loop located in the Main Street Commercial District. The city used funds to purchase wayfinding signage to promote this unique asset of Downtown Dillon.
- Little River Park Accessibility Project: Eat Smart Move More Laurens County and the Laurens County Disabilities and Special Needs Board improved accessibility and ADA compliance in a local park. The group removed barriers such as mulch and installed rubber mats. They also installed ADA signage, table ledges, and removed other barriers to mobility.
The application for the last Let’s Go 3.0 funding opportunity is open. For more information about the Let’s Go! 3.0 initiative and to submit an application, visit www.eatsmartmovemoresc.org. If you have questions about this process or projects that are acceptable, contact Kelsey@eatsmartmovemoresc.org.
These opportunities are funded through a grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.