Wholespire-funded PSE projects that can lead to healthier, more thriving communities 

Wholespire-funded PSE projects that can lead to healthier, more thriving communities 

Jun 27, 2024 | Blog, PSE Approach & Strategies

Now that you’ve learned more about the differences between policy, systems and environmental (PSE) change and programs, you should have a better understanding of why we focus on PSE projects in community health improvement, especially health eating and active living.  

For this blog post, we’re organizing project examples by these categories:  Activity-Friendly Communities, Access to Healthy Food, Healthy School Environments and Youth Engagement. Staff share their expertise, or technical assistance, within several sectors of community: municipalities, state agencies, coalitions, schools, faith-based organizations and other nonprofit organizations.  

Below is an incomplete list of community-level projects Wholespire has supported with mini-grants. The list features examples of PSE projects implemented by various communities across South Carolina. All focus areas marked with an asterisk (*) indicate a level of partnership and collaboration with local government and regulatory agencies required to complete the projects.

  

Activity-Friendly Communities

Activity-friendly communities are vibrant spaces where people of all ages and abilities can easily and safely enjoy walking, bicycling, rolling and other forms of active transportation and recreation. Communities must be thoughtfully designed and include policies, systems, and environmental supports that allow daily active transportation and recreation. 

Focus Area

 

Project/Tactic

 

Items Funded

   

Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes and Trails 

 

 

 Provide adequate signage to improve pedestrian safety   Safety signs, paint and other tools  
Install way-finding signage   Signs, posts, hardware and installation costs 
Create maps of community/ neighborhood walking and biking routes  Development of a map 
Develop Born Learning Trails
 		 Signs, posts, hardware, paint, brushes, etc. 
Install detectable warnings surfaces on curb ramps for people with disabilities 

Concrete pavers, brick pavers or other products;  

directional and warning signs 
Address pedestrian and bicycle safety to increase walking and bicycling   Paint and supplies for repainting crosswalks, traffic-calming signs, pavement markings, etc.    
Transform a trail or paved pathway into a Storywalk Kiosks, installation supplies and costs 
Transform a trail or paved pathway into a fitness trail Purchase outdoor exercise system equipment/stations 

Parks, Playgrounds and Other Recreational Facilities

 

 Provide bike racks at recreational facilities, schools, and businesses  Purchase and installation costs 
Provide benches at parks, paved walking paths, playgrounds, ADA picnic tables, etc.  Purchase and installation costs 
Improve park/recreational facilities   Recreational equipment such as basketball goals, soccer goals, playground equipment, balls, and other needs 
Create inclusive play spaces for people with disabilities  

Sensory panels, inclusive swings, and other inclusive play equipment; ramps, braille and sign language signs; accessible drinking water fountains/water bottle refill stations 

 
Improve accessibility and ADA compliance  Rubber mats for playgrounds, ADA signs, ramps, and other needs 
Create or upgrade a community basketball court  Land grading, concrete, basketball goals, paint, stencils, supplies to repair cracks on surface 
Create a disc golf course  Disc golf backets, disc golf frisbees, equipment needed for installation  

Open Community Use*

 Adopt an open community use policy to allow the public to use school recreational facilities during non-school hours 

Signs featuring hours of operation and rules of use 

 
Additional equipment or resources needed such as trash cans, benches, landscaping, soccer goals 
New and safer playground equipment 

Safe Routes to School* 

 Improve bicycle riding to school  Paint and supplies for curbs, crosswalks and other safety areas 
Effective Student Pick-up and Drop-off Design  Signs to define areas in drop-off and pick-up zones and explain their proper use 
Enhanced Visibility Crosswalks/ re-painting of crosswalks leading to the school  Stencils, paint, supplies 
Crossing Guard Supplies/Safety Equipment  Reflective vests, stop/go handheld signs, portable stop/go/slow signs and other safety equipment 
Improve school traffic safety during drop off and pick up   Supplies for road surface markings, curb markings, delineators, colored pavements, and traffic channelizing devices, lights for portico 

Access to Drinking Water

 

 Ensure drinking water is available in public spaces  Water bottle refill stations, accessible drinking water fountains, water fountains featuring a dog bowl 

Access to Healthy Food

Access to healthy food refers to the availability, affordability, and consistency of foods and beverages that promote well-being and prevent chronic disease. Areas that lack access to healthy foods are known as food deserts. Ensuring access to healthy food is an important element of an equitable food system, one in which those most vulnerable and those living in low-income neighborhoods, communities of color, and rural and tribal communities can fully participate, prosper, and benefit.

Focus Area 

Project/Tactic 

Items Funded  

Farmer’s Markets 

 

 

 Establish new farmers’ markets  Sandwich boards, employee/farmer aprons, SNAP/WIC processing equipment and Wi-Fi hot spots, signage, SNAP/WIC promotional signs 
Increase access for people with disabilities  Paint and signs for parking, materials and supplies for curb ramps 

Mobile markets

 

 Accept SNAP, WIC, Senior SNAP and Healthy Bucks  SNAP/WIC processing equipment and Wi-Fi hotspots, SNAP/WIC promotional signs  

Community Gardens

 

 Create or expand a network of community gardens  Materials to build gardening beds: lumber, cement blocks, planting soil, mulch; Water meter and backflow gauge, signage, Gardening tools (rakes, hoes, etc.), tiller 

Other food access projects 

 Provide free gleaned produce stations at a local, public facility  Shelves, baskets, bins and other food storage supplies, chalkboard signs 

Healthy School Environments

Promoting healthy eating and active living in the school environment is crucial for the overall well-being of students and staff. When students have nutritious meals and are physically active, their performance and attention span reflect those elements of healthy school environments. A healthy school environment applies to the indoor and outdoor environments of the school and the surrounding environments.  

Focus Area

 

Project/Tactic 

Items Funded

Farm-to-School 

 School Gardens 

Materials to build garden beds, soil, mulch, benches, picnic tables, Gardening tools (rakes, hoes, etc.) 

 

Open Community Use* 

 Adopt an open community use policy to allow the public to use school recreational facilities during non-school hours  Purchase signs featuring hours of operation and rules of use 
Purchase additional equipment or resources needed such as trash cans, benches, landscaping, soccer goals 
Purchase new and safer playground equipment 

FitnessGram

Provide physical activity resources for ALL teachers (not just PE)  

Purchase physical activity equipment, tools 

 

Alliance for a Healthier Generation Healthy Schools Program 

 Implement the Alliance Healthy Schools Program Framework of Criteria through the 6 Step Process for building a healthier school environment  

Activities and materials for implementing Alliance for a Healthier Generation Healthy Schools Program 

 

Out of School/Afterschool

 

 Provide physical activities before, during and after school for students and parents  Create a paved walking track, rubber mulch mats, railroad ties, spikes, benches, solar lights, active pathways, distance markers, etc. 
Retrofit and install safe water sources  Water refill stations, water fountains, accessible water fountains 

Safe Routes to School*

Improve bicycle riding to school  Paint and supplies for curbs, crosswalks and other safety areas 
Effective Student Pick-up and Drop-off Design  Signs to define areas in drop-off and pick-up zones and explain their proper use 
Enhanced Visibility Crosswalks/ re-painting of crosswalks leading to the school  Stencils, paint, supplies 
Crossing Guard Supplies/Safety Equipment  Reflective vests, stop/go handheld signs, portable stop/go/slow signs and other safety equipment 
Improve school traffic safety during drop off and pick up   Supplies for road surface markings, curb markings, delineators, colored pavements, and traffic channelizing devices, lights for portico 

Access to Drinking Water

 

 Retrofit and install safe water sources  Water refill stations, water fountains, accessible water fountains 

Transform the physical environment to increase students’ PA and other pro-social learning and play behaviors 

 

 Improve outdoor playground equipment  Purchase PA equipment, such as slides, swings, ladders, and various climbing structures for students to interact with; upgrade basketball goals 
Increase the variety of outdoor play options   Add painted play spaces or markings to the playground 
Create active pathways in hallways and walkways  Stencils, paint and other materials 
Create inclusive spaces for people with disabilities  Purchase grip volleyballs, ringing volleyballs and other specialty balls and play equipment for kids with disabilities, smooth surfaces likes rubber mats 
Create an Outdoor Classroom  Picnic tables, benches, and other materials  

 

Youth Engagement (The HYPE Project®) 

Engaging youth in community health improvement can be a driving force for change. Through the Healthy Young People Empowerment (HYPE) Project®, youth develop critical thinking skills, build relationships with community stakeholders and have fun learning practical ways to create policy, systems and environmental (PSE) changes. Youth can implement any of the projects mentioned above; however, below are examples of HYPE civic action projects Wholespire has funded.

 

Focus Area 

Project/Tactic 

Items Funded  

School-based PSE Projects 

 Mobile Breakfast Carts  Food cart, wrapping for cart 
Improve pedestrian and bicycling safety of students  Supplies for conducting a walkability assessment 

Community-based PSE Projects 

 Update a local park  Benches, trash receptables, benches, paint and supplies, park signs 
Upgrade a community basketball court  Basketball goals, paint, stencils, supplies to repair cracks on surface 
Playground improvements  Volleyball net, disability swings, trash receptables, benches, paint and supplies, park signs 

Faith-based PSE Projects 

 Create or expand a network of church gardens 

Materials to build gardening beds: lumber, cement blocks, planting soil, mulch; signage, gardening tools (rakes, hoes, etc.) 

 
Include health in all policies  Social hall signs displaying healthy eating policies  
Increase fruit and vegetable consumption at church  Equipment for a salad bar 
Create a smoke-free environment  No Smoking signs 
Download the PSE Project Examples
Community garden expansion: taking a collaborative approach

Community garden expansion: taking a collaborative approach

Jul 9, 2021 | Impact, News

The Koinonia Community Garden is thriving.

In 2020, Wholespire Richland County, formerly Eat Smart Move More Richland County, collaborated with Koinonia of Columbia and the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to support a local community garden. The community garden was funded by SCDHEC and demonstrated the idea of community and unity by taking a collaborative approach to fulfill the mission that Koinonia of Columbia, an asset-based community development non-profit in the Eau Claire community, had proposed.

The Midlands Community Systems Team at SCDHEC worked with the Central Midlands Council of Governments to provide grant funding to Wholespire Richland County for healthy eating initiatives. Funds supported the Koinonia’s expansion of 8 garden beds to twelve beds, along with supplies for building, gardening, and education.

Tecoria Jones, program manager at Koinonia, is responsible for gardening maintenance and educational programming. She says they intend to continue providing hands-on learning through gardening as part of their afterschool curriculum. “Koinonia is so appreciative to have been a recipient of the Wholespire Richland County funding. We are thankful for the growth in the children and in the community this opportunity has presented.”

It Takes a Village

Children from the Eau Claire Community learn how to plant a garden.

A few years ago, the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS) of Lenoir-Rhyne University began its partnership with the Koinonia to install the first raised beds. Since then, neighboring families, LTSS staff, and volunteers have grown vegetables in the gardens and sold the produce as a fundraiser for Transitions Homeless Center in Columbia. Students of an LTSS ethics class joined in on the collaboration after learning about asset-based community development from Koinonia staff and board members. They also learned gardening through a hands-on harvesting event with children. Ethics students also have participated in Koinonia’s mentoring and afterschool programming.

“As a Christian seminary, our partnership with Koinonia demonstrates a theology that upholds a healing connection to land, food, and neighbors. When we grow good food together, we demonstrate what God’s beloved community can look like in action,” said Dr. Melanie Dobson, assistant professor. 

Dr. Dobson went on to explain the partnership allows LTSS to practice being a good neighbor, both in the sharing of land as a resource and in building relationships with local children. 

Breaking Ground and Expanding

Wheelchair-accessible garden beds.

In March 2020, Wholespire Richland County, Koinonia and LTSS broke ground on the educational garden expansion. With the approval from LTSS leadership, Koinonia was able to map out and design a layout for the future beds. The funding supported the building of two 12’x4’ beds and two 4’x4’ wheelchair-accessible beds. Wholespire Richland County members, Koinonia staff, and LTSS staff and students rolled their sleeves up to help build the proposed beds. 

On Earth Day 2021, Koinonia kids did their spring garden planting. Kids planted herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, peppers, and squash to the existing spinach, cabbage, and collard green plants.

In Summer 2021, Koinonia is hosting Freedom School, a culture-specific framework sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund. The children of Koinonia will be seeing themselves in every book they read at Freedom School.

“We will be spotlighting and celebrating black culture. Watching and talking about how things evolve will be an essential conversation,” explained Jones.

The garden will also provide learning opportunities like agriculture, water cycle, ecosystems, and entrepreneurship.

Finishing Touches

Select Health of South Carolina donated a bench for the garden.

Select Health of South Carolina (SHSC), the oldest and largest Medicaid Care organization in South Carolina for over 26 years, got on board and donated a garden bench to support the continuity of community’s mission for sustainable, healthy communities. 

“It was our deepest pleasure to support Wholespire Richland County on the 2021 project at Koinonia’s Community Garden, which hosted the Spring Garden Planting on Earth Day,” said Addie Bors, SHSC director of community education and outreach. 

Impact of Community Gardens

One of the several tomato plants for the garden.

Community gardens bring positive activity to neighborhoods. They provide a source of fresh, affordable and local produce. Some produce is donated to the community and used in educational and nutritional cooking programs. This garden is an excellent learning tool in Koinonia’s afterschool program. The gardens will provide access to nature, healthy food, green infrastructure, and ecological restoration for the community. 

“We are thankful for all of our coalition members and community partners. It is our hope that these children will start having a natural love of gardening. We would love to see their enthusiasm spill over into other school subjects that are related to the garden, like science, art and math,” said TQ Davis, Wholespire Richland County chair.

If you are interested in learning more or joining Wholespire Richland County, please visit our website.

Koinonia of Columbia is a asset-based community development non-profit in the Eau Claire community. Founded by Kelly and David Strum, Koinonia of Columbia sees the power of nature as equally important in the growth and development of children and the village around them. They aim to provide a fruitful and robust nation of good citizens, and they believe children are key to the future.

 

Growing COB’s mission to improve health of low-income households through access to sustainable gardens, fresh food

Growing COB’s mission to improve health of low-income households through access to sustainable gardens, fresh food

Jun 6, 2019 | Impact, Mini-Grant Projects, News

By SHAKORA BAMBERG T&D Correspondent

Growing Calhoun, Orangeburg, Bamberg believes in tomorrow and is on a mission to improve the health of the community, low-income households and schools through access to sustainable gardens, fresh food and education.

Growing COB was founded in December 2017 when End Child Hunger, a group out of the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health, reached out to leaders in the community to start an Orangeburg chapter. Discussions showed there was an interest in starting a community garden. After meeting for a few months and bringing on new members, the group decided to expand its outreach to Calhoun and Bamberg counties.

One of the group’s projects is the Orangeburg County Community Garden located at South Carolina State University, which opened on Oct. 13, 2018. Every Wednesday, organizers give away free produce from the garden to community members. Jamison’s Pharmacy in Orangeburg serves as the food hub, and hundreds of people show up to get fresh, local produce.

“We started the garden when we were awarded funds from Eat Smart Move More South Carolina from their Let’s Go 3.0 grant in August 2018. We were able to receive funds to start the garden through the Tri-County Health Network and the Regional Medical Center, our fiscal agents,” a press release from Growing COB states.

The staff of Orangeburg County has supported Growing COB through the donation of multiple compost bins and additional resources.

Those who’d like to volunteer in the community garden can sign up at the following link: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/70a094daaaf28a6ff2-winter

The organization to date has been fortunate to partner with the following:

  • Bamberg County Community Rural Art Works League
  • Caring Always Matters Foundation
  • Clemson Extension
  • Eat Smart Move More SC
  • Jamison’s Pharmacy
  • Orangeburg Consolidated School District 4
  • Orangeburg County
  • Orangeburg County Library, Orangeburg Branch
  • Orangeburg County Soil & Water Conservation District
  • South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
  • South Carolina State University, Department of Biological & Physical Sciences, Environmental Action Group
  • Small Business Development Center
  • Southeastern Housing & Community Development
  • Regional Medical Center
  • Tri-County Health Network
  • USC Arnold School of Public Health

In the past, Growing COB partnered with the Smart Box Food Pantry and Amazing Grace Ministries to distribute water in Denmark. They’ve also held spaghetti dinner fundraisers to help sustain the garden.

To keep up with the organization’s activities, follow Growing COB on Facebook.

To learn more about Growing Calhoun, Orangeburg, Bamberg, visit the website: https://growingcob.wixsite.com/scfoodaccess.

Members of the organization meet monthly at various locations in Calhoun, Orangeburg and Bamberg counties. Those who would like to attend the meetings are asked to email GrowingCOB@gmail.com.